El Castillo Pyramid of Kukulcan Lit Up at Night Sound and Light Show, Maya Toltec Ruins, Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most famous, most visited of all the major Maya archaeological sites. It's name in means 'At the Mouth of the Well of Itza,' but is also referred to in ancient chronicles as Uucyabnal, meaning 'Seven Great Rulers.' Chichen Itza was, in its heyday (between 800 and 1200 ), the centre of political, religious and military power in the Yucatan, if not all of South-Eastern Meso-America. There are a wealth of architectural styles visible at the site. Old Chichen was founded around 400 AD by the Maya and governed by priests. The architecture of this period is in the Puuc style, characterised by many representations of the rain god Chaac. New Chichen began circa 850AD with the arrival of the Itza from Central Mexico and the city was largely rebuilt with many representations of the god Kukulcan (Quetzalcoatl) the plumed serpent. The Itza were more politically and commercially aggressive than the Maya, and ruled for about 150 years with many bloody battles. The Itza also appear to have elevated the occasional ritual sacrifices of the Maya into a major art form, and many of the decorative carvings at the site commemorate human sacrifices. The Pyramid of Kukulcan is also the site of one of the world's most famous solar events, for, at the spring and autumn equinoxes the rising and setting of the sun casts a shadow from the corner of the pyramid in the shape of the plumed serpent along the side of the North staircase. On these two days, sun's movement causes the serpent to appear and climb the pyramid steps. Chichen was taken over by its rival city Mayapan around 1300, and suddenly abandoned completely in 1400 AD. Archaeological data, such as evidence of burning at a number of important structures suggest that Chichen Itza's collapse was violent. But while there are many theories, none are conclusive. The site has been widely studied, excavated and extensively restored since it was rediscovered in 1839. Several waves
Size: 5014px × 3356px
Location: Chichen Itza, Mexico
Photo credit: © Septemberlegs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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