Saturday, December 15, 2018

4.Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbiancity built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period. The archaeological site is located in Tinúm MunicipalityYucatán StateMexico.
Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the Northern Maya Lowlands from the Late Classic (c. AD 600–900) through the Terminal Classic (c. AD 800–900) and into the early portion of the Postclassic period (c. AD 900–1200). The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico and of the Puuc and Chenes styles of the Northern Maya lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

Chichen Itza was one of the largest Maya cities and it was likely to have been one of the mythical great cities, or Tollans, referred to in later Mesoamerican literature.The city may have had the most diverse population in the Maya world, a factor that could have contributed to the variety of architectural styles at the site.

Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico with over 2.6 million tourists in 2017.
Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico; in 2014 it was estimated to receive an average of 1.4 million visitors every year.

The Maya name "Chichen Itza" means "At the mouth of the well of the Itza." This derives from chi', meaning "mouth" or "edge," and ch'en or ch'e'en, meaning "well." Itzá is the name of an ethnic-lineage group that gained political and economic dominance of the northern peninsula. One possible translation for Itza is "enchanter (or enchantment) of the water," from its, "sorcerer," and ha, "water."

Chichen Itza is located in the eastern portion of Yucatán state in Mexico.The northern Yucatán Peninsula is arid, and the rivers in the interior all run underground. There are four visible, natural sink holes, called cenotes, that could have provided plentiful water year round at Chichen, making it attractive for settlement. Of these cenotes, the "Cenote Sagrado" or Sacred Cenote (also variously known as the Sacred Well or Well of Sacrifice), is the most famous.In 2015, scientists determined that there is a hidden cenote under Kukulkan, which has never been seen by archaeologists.

The layout of Chichen Itza site core developed during its earlier phase of occupation, between 750 and 900 AD.[19] Its final layout was developed after 900 AD, and the 10th century saw the rise of the city as a regional capital controlling the area from central Yucatán to the north coast, with its power extending down the east and west coasts of the peninsula.[20] The earliest hieroglyphicdate discovered at Chichen Itza is equivalent to 832 AD, while the last known date was recorded in the Osario temple in 998.

The sides of the pyramid are approximately 55.3 metres (181 ft) at the base and rise at an angle of 53°, although that varies slightly for each side.The four faces of the pyramid have protruding stairways that rise at an angle of 45°.The talud walls of each terrace slant at an angle of between 72° and 74°.

  • El Caracol, observatory of Chichen Itza.
  • Temple of the Warriors in 1986. ...
  • Stone Ring located 9 m (30 ft) above the floor of the Great Ballcourt.
  • Venus Platform in the Great Plaza.
  • Kukulcán pyramid.
  • Grand Ballcourt from El Castillo.
  • Mosaic mask on the western face of La Iglesia.
  • Elaborate mosaic masks.

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7. Petra

Petra  originally known to its inhabitants as  Raqmu , is a historical and archaeological city in southern  Jordan . Petra lies on the slo...