19. Model of Chichen Itza at the main entrance building. Chichen Itza is the best known of the Yucatan’s archeological ruins. Many primary Mayan cities were built around cenotes or wells for obvious reasons and accordingly “chi” translates mouth and “chen” well. As “Itza” refers to the tribe first known to have built on the site, the entire name roughly translates “well of the Itzas.” The city was founded in 445 AD, thrived for 200 years and was then abandoned for some 200 more. At the end of that period, the center was reinhabited and continued so until 1204AD.

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