Our first trip took us to the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, to the impressive Chichén Itzá. We saw another fantastic pyramid, which, although similar in form to the structures we had seen before, showed many differences on closer inspection. It was interesting to compare the construction methods. While in Egypt they used gigantic stone blocks, and in other parts of Mexico the frame was often built from smaller stones and pebbles, here we found much more elaborate buildings made of finely carved stones.
However, the difference in the role of the pyramids is even more significant. While the Egyptian pyramids were monumental tombs, which were intended to proclaim the greatness of the dead pharaoh and his belief in eternal life to eternity, the American pyramids – such as the Mayan ones – were primarily sacred places and ritual centers. They were not intended as resting places for the dead, but as living religious sites: in the temples on top, rituals were performed, sacrifices were presented, and communication with the gods was established. These structures were more like “artificial mountains” that connected the earth to the sky, and often functioned as astronomical calendars.
We only had a few hours to explore the main pyramid and the surrounding buildings, but we enjoyed every minute of this time travel. After exploring the area, we continued to a cooling cenote. We used GetYourGuide for the trip, and as we had experienced before, we were not disappointed with the organization and quality.
The history of Chichén Itzá began around the 5th century AD, when the Mayans settled in the area, which was made habitable by the natural sinkholes, the cenotes, in the area. The name of the city also suggests this: “at the mouth of the Itza well”. Initially, the classic Mayan style dominated, but around the 10th century, a significant change occurred when the city came under the influence of the Toltecs. This fusion created the unique, hybrid architectural style that elevated Chichén Itzá to the most important political and religious center of the entire peninsula.
At the center of the city’s religious life was Kukulcan, the god of the Feathered Serpent, the Mayan equivalent of the Toltec Quetzalcoatl. The main pyramid, El Castillo, was dedicated to him, and it is a stone copy of the Mayan calendar. The genius of the building is demonstrated by the fact that during the equinoxes, the play of sunlight and shadow creates the figure of a creeping serpent along the steps, symbolizing the god’s descent to earth. In addition to Kukulcan, Chaac, the rain god, also played an important role, for whose benevolence sacrifices were often offered in the nearby Sacred Cenote.
The city’s architecture was not only an aesthetic but also a scientific feat. The observatory known as the Caracol testifies to the Itza people’s mastery of astronomy; they accurately tracked the transit of Venus and solar eclipses. The famous ball game, the largest in all of Mesoamerica, was also part of ritual life. This game was not just a sport, but a symbolic representation of the struggle of cosmic forces, where the stakes were often life or death.
The city’s heyday ended around the 13th century, when internal conflicts and the rise of rival city-states caused Chichén Itzá to lose its leading role. Although most of the population migrated to Mayapán, the site was never completely forgotten. It remained a sacred pilgrimage site, where the Maya continued to offer sacrifices centuries later. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, they found only ruins deep in the jungle, but the size of the walls and pyramids impressed even them.
In modern times, Chichén Itzá has become one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Today, it attracts not only historians, but millions of people every year who want to see the engineering and intellectual greatness of the Mayan civilization. For us, this visit proved that while the shape of the pyramids may be familiar to the world, the soul and history of Chichén Itzá are like nothing else.
