art 216-chichen itza

CHICHÉN ITZÁ 600-900 AD

Late Classic

CHICHÉN ITZÁ, YUCATÁN, MEXICO

• “at the mouth of the well of the Itza

people”

• Mythically Chichén was introduced to

kingship, sacred landscapes,

ceremonies and culture by

Quetzalcoatl or known as Kukulcan to

the Maya.

• Chichén was one of the largest Maya

sites and is the biggest archeological

attraction in Mexico with over 1.5

million visitors each year.

• Chichén like other Maya sites may

have ruled by a single ruler (though it

is unsure)

• Chichén is a fusion of Maya culture

and central Mexico culture.

EL CASTILLO(THE CASTLE)

• Previously known as the Pyramid of

Quetzalcoatl or the Palace of

Kukulcan.

• Building of 9 levels** with staircases

flowing down all four sides of the

building. 91 steps on each side of the

pyramid. 91 x4= 364 +1 serpent

head=365 days of the year!

• The building recognizes the solar

year/calendar!

• At the base of the stairwell is a carved

stone monument of a feathered

serpent.

• The Temple located on top of the

pyramid was used for ceremonial

purposes and contained sacred idols.

An equinox is an astronomical event in which the plane of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun, causing day and night to be of approximately equal duration all over the planet.An equinox occurs twice each year, around 20 March and 23 September

• The Castillo was oriented to acknowledge movements of the heavens, and on the equinoxes the nine levels of the pyramid cast a shadow that reveals a serpent along the northern staircase.

• The same effect can be seen on the Spring and Autumn equinoxes

INSIDE EL CASTILLO

Mesoamerican cultures periodically

superimposed larger structures over

older ones, and El Castillo is one such

example.

In the mid-1930s, they discovered a

staircase under the north side of the

pyramid.

By digging from the top, they found

another temple buried below the current

one.

Inside the temple chamber was a

Chacmool statue and a throne in the

shape of Jaguar, painted red and with

spots made of inlaid jade.

The chacmool is evidence of Tula

influence and human sacrifice. ****

The Caracol (Conch Shell): Tiny windows at the top were oriented for astronomical observations. May resemble the section of a conch shell. The unusual plan and placement of openings allow observation of the movements of Venus, which was of great importance to all Mesoamerican people. Venus indicated the time of year to plant

crops for harvest.

Great Ballcourt: Largest of all ballcourts in ancient Mesoamerica. Its playing area extends over a length of 479 feet and its width of 118 ft, several times the size of the average ballcourt. Vertical walls rise above a sloping tablero that by itself is higher than most other ballcourts.Rings, carved with entwined rattlesnakes, set into these side walls hoops through which

the solid rubber ball passed are placed 26ft above the playing surface!

Detail from panel at Chichén Itzá ballcourt depicting the decapitation of a ballgame player. In one panel, one of the players has been decapitated; the wound emits streams of blood in the form of wriggling snakes.

TZOMPANTLI

The Tzompantli structure at Chichén

Itzá is a Toltec structure, where the

heads of sacrificial victims were

placed.

The platform walls of the Tzompantli

have carved reliefs of four different

subjects.

The primary subject is the skull rack

itself; others show a scene with a

human sacrifice; eagles eating human

hearts; and skeletonized warriors

with shields and arrows.

TEMPLE OF THE WARRIORS

• The temple undoubtedly bears a

striking resemblance to Pyramid B at

Tula.

• A field of square pills which would

have supported a perishable roof.

• Each pillar is carved on four side;

some reliefs feature standing warriors

with Toltec ‘pillbox’ headdress and

weaponry, others show skirted

figures, probably women, bearing

offerings.

• This building may have been a seat of

government, its function largely

bureaucratic.

• In the first chamber, a chacmool was set to receive offerings

• The doorway of the temple is flanked by great feathered-serpent columns, whose plumed rattles once supported the door lintel.

In the rear chamber a great platform raised up by miniature atlanteansonce served as the ruler’s throne.

TULA &CHICHÉN ITZÁ

•Ball Court

•Atlantes (Warrior columns)

•Chacmool

•Pyramid B

•Tzompantli

•Feathered serpent (Quetzalcoatl)

•Supposed ancestors of the Aztecs

•Central Mexico

•Economy based on trade routes (Southwest)

•Military based society

•Ball Court

•Atlantes

•Chacmool

•Temple of the Warriors

•Tzompantli

•Feathered Serpent! (Kukulkan)

•Maya

•Religious and cultural center

•Big time astronomers

•Highly accurate calendar

•Invention of zero