Chichen Itza

The largest and arguably most highly developed of ancient Mayan cities, Chichen Itza peaked between 750 and 1200 AD, on what is today known as the Yucatan Peninsula. Judging through 21st century eyes, the Maya were a strange mixture of advanced and archaic. They practiced human sacrifice, but were also highly adept at mathematics and astronomy. The ruins of Chichen Itza even include 13 ball courts for what may have been their favorite pastime, a game in which the losing team lost their lives. After prospering for centuries, in the 1400s the city was mysteriously abandoned.

The largest of the step pyramids, the Temple of Kukulcan is also known as El Castillo (the Castle). At almost 100’ tall, the pyramid has 91 steps on each of its four sides for a total of 364. One more step up to the temple at the top made 365, conforming to the calendar the Maya had created. The city's only sources of water in an arid landscape were sinkholes that exposed the groundwater table. One such sinkhole was viewed as sacred and used to sacrifice some of their own people to the serpent god of the underworld.

Tourists are no longer admitted inside many of the structures due to safety considerations. Among hundreds of structures, the most outstanding are El Castillo, the Great Ballcourt, the Astronomical Observatory, the Temple of the Warriors, the Thousand Columns, and the Temple of the Bearded Man. The most striking feature of all is the trick of light and shade that occurs near sunset on the Spring and Fall equinox when the shadows appear to create a moving snake-god crawling down the side of El Castillo. For those not willing to brave the large crowds, this effect is simulated after dark with artificial lighting.