La Ruta Maya - Page 4 Most archaeologists agree that Chichen Itza was first settled during the late Classic period between 550 and 900 AD and was pure Mayan. In about the 10th century, the city was largely abandoned for unknown reasons.
The city was resettled about 1100 AD. Shortly thereafter, Chichen Itza was invaded by the Toltecs, who had moved down from their central highlands capital of Tula, north of present day Mexico City. The Toltecs fused their culture with that of the Maya, incorporating the cult of Quetzalcoatl.
Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, was a blond king with great powers who was supposedly cast out of his kingdom and exiled from the central highlands to Mexico's south-east. Legend has it that he would reappear and bring a great era with him. This legend would ultimately help pave the way for Cortez in his conquest of Mexico.
In Chichen Itza you will see images of Chac, the Mayan rain god and Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, throughout the city. However, because there appears to be evidence of
Toltec influence long before the supposed Toltec invasion, there is speculation that Tula had once been a colony of Chichen and that Toltec influence filtered back to the Yucatan.
The warlike Toltecs contributed more than their architectural skills. They elevated human sacrifice to a
near obsession, for there are numerous carvings of the bloody ritual in Chichen.
Here we see the author being sacrificed as he was the only virgin available on January 14, 1998!
After a Toltec leader moved his political capital to Mayapan while keeping Chichen Itza as his religious capital, Chichen Itza fell into decline. Why it was subsequently abandoned in the 14th century is a mystery, but the once-great city remained the site of Mayan pilgrimages for years afterward.
Chichen Itza could easily demand three or four days for the serious student of Mayan history. If there is one place you should visit in your life I would say Chichen Itza would be near the top of the list! Unfortunately, we had to leave as we were still only a third of the way through our planned trip.
Looking at a large scale map of the Yucatan you will find there are many small back roads that crise-cross the entire Yucatan. We knew these were the roads we wanted to be on! No more tourists buses for us! We planned a route to head toward the coastal Mayan site of Tulum.
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