Chichen Itza
A labyrinth of caves and underground rivers lies deep in the heart of the limestone landscape of the Yucatán. In ancient times, cenotes or sinkholes, which form when cave roofs weaken and subside, were the only source of fresh water for area inhabitants and settlements were located near these natural wells.
Apart from being a life-giving [...]
Pok ta Pok; The Mayan Ball Game
Athletes or Worshipers?
The Popol Vuh, the holy book of the Quiché Maya, relates a confrontation story between good and evil, represented with a ballgame. This Mesoamerican ballgame played a mysterious and very important role throughout pre-Hispanic civilizations, with a symbolic struggle between opposing forces, featuring an outcome governed by [...]
Twice a year, on March 21 and September 21, the sun makes a shadow on the side of the stairs on the North side of El Castillo Pyramid in Chichen Itza forming a snake. This, used to be the sign for the Mayas to start planting the corn. This event is called The Equinox.
The fall [...]
Visitors to Chichen Itza will hear the tour guide talk about “Chac”. There are actually two characters answering to that name. Chaac is the Mayan rain god, portrayed on temple walls at Chichén Itzá, and other ancient cities in the Yucatan such as Uxmal and Kabah, as a mask with a long curling snout, reptilian [...]
