Introduction

Chichén Itzá is a large archeological site built by the Maya civilization which was located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula (now known as Mexico).

The Maya derived around 3,000 years ago in present-day Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. The Mayan empire thrived in the southern regions from around AD 250 to AD 900. However, around AD 900 the empire in the south collapsed.

During the destruction of the southern empire, the northern empire flourished until the Spanish invasion in the 16^th century.

The Maya were skilled farmers and created a very sophisticated written language. They also developed social class system. They have strong mathematical knowledge and they also used them to finesse a calendar created by the Olmec. Monuments were also built using this method, in which some of these are still exist.

There are not much written records of Chichén Itzá. Many are from about AD 550 to AD 800 where it was used as a ceremonial center for the Maya. There is unknown reason why it was abandoned for about a hundred years and resettled at around AD 900. People came from the north (a.k.a Toltecs) and overthrown Chichén Itzá shortly before AD 1000.

The different types of architecture are proves of different areas in Chichén Itzá. The older section, called Puuc, shows Chichén Itzá before the Toltec conquest and after it had been conquered. Another unique structure found around the Puuc was the Caracol. The newer section, however, shows a much stronger Toltec influence. The Mayan monster masks were everywhere but there were also images of Toltecs officials and feathered serpents decorated in the buildings.

There were stone figures called chacmools which may have been used to receive the human hearts sacrificed to Chac. There is another structure called El Castillo or the Pyramid of Kukulcán. The special thing about this structure is that it can create the look of a snake slithering down this structure during every spring and fall in the late afternoon.

At around AD 1200, the Toltec mysteriously abandoned Chichén Itzá and was resettled by the Itzá who gave the city its present name. Chichén Itzá means “at the mouth of the well of the Itzá.” Both drinking and agriculture water were taken from the cenotes or wells which came from the circular sinkholes formed by underground caves collapsing. Many people believe that the Sacred Cenote was a place where human sacrifices were made as human bones have been found inside it, as well jade and engraved gold disk.

Once again, Chichén Itzá was abandoned immediately by the Itzá for unknown reasons. Where then they settled in nearby Mayapan. The Chichén Itzá glory was never again realized as the only remains left are the buildings.