It is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the New World. This large pre-Columbian city flourished from 600 AD to 1221. Learn more about Chichen Itza before heading to our great Cancun to Chichen Itza Tour. The actual name “Chichen Itza” means “At the mouth of the well of the Itza.” The itza are believed to have been an ethnic-lineage group. Since then, climbing the stairs has been banned by authorities. Chac Mool sculpture at Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico. 16. The human sacrifices chosen by the Mayans were boys and young men. In 1904 Edward Herbert Thompson, an American who had bought the entire site, began dredging the cenote; his discovery of skeletons and sacrificial objects confirmed the legend. These are ready-to-use Chichen Itza worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Chichen Itza which was an ancient Mayan city located in the Yucatan Peninsula. 10. Two big cenotes on the site made it a suitable place for the city and gave it its name, from chi (“mouths”), chen (“wells”), and Itzá, the name of the Maya tribe that settled there. El Castillo (“The Castle”), Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico. Farmers had already inhabited the area for a few hundred years, though they didn’t leave such established footprints behind. What does Chichen Itza mean? It’s still pretty impressive that they were able to predict how this would happen. From the top visitors have a marvelous view over the flat state of Yucatán. 22. The dominant feature in the city, which covered 25 square kilometers in its heyday, was El Castillo, the spectacular central pyramid. This represents exactly the days of the year. All the buildings are made of stone without the use of the wheel 4. June 15, 2016, cherran, 1 Comment. It shares this title with the Great Wall of China, the Christ the Redeemer Statue, Machu Picchu, The Taj Mahal, The Colosseum, and Petra.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'listerious_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_20',134,'0','0'])); This concludes our list of interesting facts about Chichen Itza, the amazing ancient city left behind by the Mayan People. 15. See more Chichen Itza location, facts and history here… Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Chichen Itza was the capital of one of the largest Mayan kingdoms existing from about 600 to 1200 AD. 14. This famous Mayan site may not be entirely Mayan. Chichen Itza was built by Maya People The history of Chichen Itza can be traced back to the classic period of Mayan civilization. The site has been listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mayans painted human sacrifices blue before throwing them into the sacred well to die. The Great Ballcourt of Chichen Itza measures a huge 146 meters by 36 and is the largest of its kind in Mesoamerica. Unfortunately, in 2006 a woman died when she fell off the stairs when descending. Restoration is being done at the site of Chichen Itza. It is thought to have been a religious, military, political, and commercial centre that at its peak would have been home to 35,000 people. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Chichen Itza was not only one of the largest Mayan cities of the pre-Columbian era, it was also the most culturally diverse. Chichen Itza is one of the 7 wonders of the world today. The Toltecs allegedly conquered Chichen Itza in the 10th century CE and constructed what is now regarded as the ‘new section’ of the city. Chichen Itza Facts What is Chichen Itza. El Castillo has four sides, each with 91 stairs and facing a cardinal direction; including the step on the top platform, these combine for a total of 365 steps—the number of days in the solar year. Much of the timeline of Chichen Itza’s construction is a hotly debated issue, some even call it “the most heated debate in Mesoamerican archaeology”. The feathered serpent at the bottom of the pyramids at Chichen Itza is the deity of the mesoamerican cultures called Kukulcan. The Pyramid of Kukulcan contains exactly 365 steps. It was strong because the city was able to … Chichen Itza Information. During the first millennium AD the Maya keenly observed and … Chichen Itza Facts for Kids. Chichen Itza has beautiful buildings that still keep dozens of secrets about the knowledge that the ancient Maya possessed. The popular archaeological site located in Yucatan has news for you. From the top visitors have a marvelous view over the flat state of Yucatán. Standing on the platform of the temple to the north of the court, it is possible to hear a whisper from 150 feet (46 metres) away. The official name for Chichen Itza is Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza. Chichen Itza sits on two natural sinkholes. Temple of the Warriors, Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico. Let us find out some interesting facts about Chichen Itza: Fancy a vacation in this stunning locale with an abundance of historical sites to explore? Image credit: Shutterstock. A legendary tradition at Chichén was the Cult of the Cenote, involving human sacrifice to the rain god, Chaac, in which victims were thrown into the city’s major cenote (at the northernmost part of the ruin), along with gold and jade ornaments and other valuables. Best price and money back guarantee! Let’s check out some interesting things about this ancient city. What is known about the city is that it was originally built by the Maya and that it first started to come into real prominence around the seventh century. Nov 26, 2015 - Chichen Itza, located in Mexico is one of the world’s newest seven wonders and a UNESCO world heritage site. The Temple of the Warriors, Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico. It’s one of the most prolific sites left behind by the Mayan civilization which flourished in the region for hundreds of years. 25. That revolves around their head ending up on the Tzompantli.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'listerious_com-leader-2','ezslot_21',131,'0','0'])); We don’t believe this requires any further explanation…. The Toltecs allegedly conquered Chichen Itza in the 10th century CE and constructed what is now regarded as the ‘new section’ of the city. 11. About 125 km west of Cancun and Cozumel, it is the Sacred Cenote, a deep sinkhole that the Mayans used for religious ceremonies, sacrifices to the Gods and more. What is known about the city is that it was originally built by the Maya and that it first started to come into real prominence around the seventh century. During its golden period, the port at Isla Cerritos was used to transport goods and valuables all across the Americas. Chichen Itza is one of the most visited places in all of Mexico. Historic records vary as to an exact date the Mayans settled Chichen Itza and began construction, ranging from A.D. 550 to A.D. 800. As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, this site may earn from qualifying purchases. It was discovered by archaeologists in the 1800s. 18. The Casa de las Monjas (“Nunnery”), one of the earliest structures built at Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico. Chichen Itza is owned by the Mexican Government and the site is maintained by Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History). Many of the Mayan people were skilled craftsmen – sculptors, potters, and jewellers 3. Corrections? Omissions? Water was a precious resource in the agriculture-based Mayan society and the city of Chichen Itza was located, and founded, by a cenote, or a large natural well of water, which also gave the city the first half of its name. Read on to find out more about this intriguing place. The site first saw settlers in 550, probably drawn there because of the easy access to water in the region via caves and sinkholes in limestone formations, known as cenotes. Excavation began in the 19th century, and the site became one of Mexico’s prime archaeological zones. Temple of the Warriors. Chichen Itza itself is more than just a pyramid. Rich in history and the centre of pilgrimage for the ancient Maya civilization for over 1,000 years, Chichen Itza is full of interesting facts. 6 years ago 3 years ago. Every building has a purpose, even the position and size they have, probably also have a purpose. One of the most popular places in this area is the resort town of Cancun and Chichen Itza is located about 120 kilometers from it. Britannica now has a site just for parents! The Mayan people were known to be excellent astronomers though. The ruins are visited by many people. The word “Chichen Itza” is derived from a Mayan name which means, “on the … Chichen Itza’s golden era. History. Long left to the jungle, Chichén Itzá remained sacred to the Maya. It is thought that the Itza people created the first settlement in the area, but their civilization eventually weakened, and they left. The area was a popular place of pilgrimage and continued to be a religious centre 5. Here are some interesting facts about this diverse location in the Yucatan peninsula that any young history buffs will love. And was recently chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World? 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