Mexico and Clouds.. My relaxing holidays on the beaches of Playa del Carmen (part 4)
This morning, first up early for excursions deserve .... Starting from the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, the first to tell the story of this wonderful site I would like to congratulate Maya nosta excellent guide: Efrain Alamos's Travel Service, told us everything and more, we went to visit the site and maya, without being too heavy, in fact we did have a nice day of culture, if you are from the parts of Playa del Carmen and seek guidance as well ask him.
And now some history: Before the landing of the Spanish conquistadors in the region, the Yucatan was one of the most prosperous regions of the empire and kept some of Maya archaeological remains dating back more than three thousand years ago. The Mayan cities of the region continued to grow after the decline of the Maya cities of the central area. Some of these continued to be inhabited until the arrival of Europeans. Others, such as Merida and Izamal (the state capital, formerly called, Did I) are still inhabited today. The state of Yucatan was one of the last to join the Mexican Republic. In the nineteenth century, some current promosero the independence of the breakaway Republic of Yucatan, but had a fleeting life. The golden age of the Maya, Chichen Itza was the most powerful city in Yucatan. Peoples surprise us, of great scientific, who practiced human sacrifice and worshiped the stars, the Mayans, spread throughout Mexico - up in Belize and Guatemala - have never revealed all their secrets. It ignores, in particular, the reasons for the sharp decline in the twelfth century, the civilizations that have lived for about 4,000 years, until the passage under Spanish rule. However, the discoveries have unearthed the territory of the Maya, held in the city-state, independent or federated. The social organization is the central element of witness the lifestyles of different groups ETIN in a world filled with beliefs, rigorously represented. Most of the temples formed a triangle with the stars aligned perfectly. The elite, made up of scholars, priests and astronomers used them as means to dominate the population during the eclipse (c0me the spring equinox, March 21). According to a specific timetable, the stars, the moon or the sun is creeping into the recesses of divine temples, creating games of shadow and light. Starting from Chichen Itza, the Maya of the Yucatan peninsula, divided into three states _ Campeche, Yucatan and Quintaa Roo - have left a legacy of many cities. "Mouth of the well of Itzi" is the meaning of the name of one of the most famous cities of the Maya world at its apogee in the sixth century. Located 220 km from Cancun in the state of Yucatan, Chichen Itza distinguished himself as a cultural and political center of ancient civilizations and peoples Itza was one of the largest cities of the peninsula. Among his most important buildings are the Temple of the Warriors, the Group of a Thousand Columns, where he held the market, the platform of Venus, the Tzompantli, the Game of Pelota, the Snail, the Centre or the Church. At the end of the tenth century, the city was overrun by the warlike tribe of the Toltecs, who brought a new set of cultural elements: the representation of the snake-god Kukulcan, also known as Quetzacoalt or "Plumed Serpent". The spectacular Kukulcan pyramid with four sides and 30 feet high, surmounted by a temple, was the schedule: 365 steps, 52 panels (one for each year of the Mayan cycle) and 18 terraces representing the 18 months of the religious year . During the spring and autumn equinoxes in March and September, the sun casts a shadow the shape of a huge snake, which seems to descend on the facade of the pyramid called El Castillo, a show that always fascinates the crowd. The power of this city was so great that centuries after its abandonment, there still is held ceremonies and celebrations, before it fell into oblivion.