El Castillo of Chichen Itza
by Teresa Zieba
Title
El Castillo of Chichen Itza
Artist
Teresa Zieba
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Ref: 483, was one of the largest Maya cities, with the relatively densely clustered architecture of the site core covering an area of at least 5 square kilometres (1.9�sq�mi). The city was built upon broken terrain, which was artificially levelled in order to build the major architectural groups, with the greatest effort being expended in the levelling of the areas for the Castillo pyramid, and the Las Monjas, Osario and Main Southwest groups.
The site contains many fine stone buildings in various states of preservation, and many have been restored.
The buildings of Chichen Itza are grouped in a series of architectonic sets, and each set was at one time separated from the other by a series of low walls. The three best known of these complexes are the Great North Platform, which includes the monuments of El Castillo, Temple of Warriors and the Great Ball Court.
El Castillo ( picture here ) dominating the North Platform of Chichen Itza is the Temple of Kukulkan (a Maya feathered serpent deity similar to the Aztec Quetzalcoatl), usually referred to as El Castillo ("the castle"). This step pyramid stands about 30 metres (98 ft) high and consists of a series of nine square terraces.
On the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, in the late afternoon, the northwest corner of the pyramid casts a series of triangular shadows against the western balustrade on the north side that evokes the appearance of a serpent wriggling down the staircase, which some scholars have suggested is a representation of the feathered-serpent god Kukulkan.
The pyramid was closed after a San Diego, California, woman fell to her death in 2006 right after this picture was taken. I was an eye-witness to this tragic event.
The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site's stewardship is maintained by Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Antropolog�a e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History). The land under the monuments had been privately owned until 29 March 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatan.
Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico; an estimated 1.4 million tourists visit the ruins every year.
Location: Yucatan, Mexico
Uploaded
March 25th, 2017
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Viewed 1,227 Times - Last Visitor from Cupertino, CA on 03/27/2024 at 12:34 PM
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Comments (49)
Tatiana Travelways
Congratulations! Your beautiful artwork has been featured on the homepage of "Travel Art" group at Fine Art America, and saved on our Travel Art Group board on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/travelways/travel-art-group-on-fine-art-america/ :) Please archive it in the specific travel category under discussions, and don't forget to promote it in our Facebook group ;)
Teresa Zieba
Robyn, thank you for featuring this image in "The World We See" group. Truly appreciated.
Teresa Zieba
John, thank you for the feature in "Images That Excite You" group. Greatly appreciated.
Teresa Zieba
Kim, thank you for featuring this image in "The Road To Self Promotion" group. Truly appreciated.
Teresa Zieba
Mariola, thank you for the feature in "Polish Photographers Platform" group. Greatly appreciated.