Syllabus
INTRODUCTION
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Sacred Places
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An exploration of how and why places become invested with SACREDNESS and how the SACRED is embodied or made manifest through ART and ARCHITECTURE
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Chichén Itzá
Jen Perkins
The highly mysterious ruins of the city of Chichén Itzá were left by the Maya people. The city covers one and one half miles square and contains several hundred buildings which are spread out and are indicative of very little pre-planning (see view of city). They were occupied between 600 and 1400 AD and have two distinctly different architectural styles. The first set of ruins are built in the relatively simple Mayan style. These buildings are dated 700-900 AD and tend to be rectangular, stone structures with plain walls. The second architectural period was from 900-1100 AD and contains a Toltec influence. These buildings are more impressive and were painted and carved. The most well-known sites from Chichén Itzá are in this style (ie. the Castillo, the Ball Court). The dichotomy of styles has always been explained with the popular idea of the Mayans being taken over by the Mexicans, which is a theory that is now in question.
The city is set-up across a broad plaza (see map of Chichén Itzá). At the center, the main focus is the Temple of Kulkulcan (the Castillo). This is the large structure that is shaped like a pyramid and which was most probably used in religious ceremonies. The acoustics of the building cause it to be possible for a person, who is standing on the top step, to be heard on the ground for a great distance, even when speaking in a normal tone of voice. Another interesting feature of this man-made mountain is that any noise that is made while facing the side of the structure will have its echo returned as a high-pitched squeal. This is also the building that tourists flock to on the equinox when the sun casts a shadow of a snake moving down the pyramid, which is representative of the snake god entering the earth and making it fertile. This is an example of venerating mountains as sacred because this is a man-made mountain, which sits as the focal point of the city (see Mountains and the Sacred).
From this point, if one looks to the north, there exists a paved road that leads to the Sacred Cenote, more commonly referred to as the Well of Sacrifice. This well was particularly special to these people because there is evidence that, even after the city was abandoned, sacrifices were still made to the well. These sacrifices and offerings included not only jewels and gold but also young girls. Part of the mystery behind the well was that at certain times it was said to turn blood-red. This has now been explained by identifying a particular type of algae, but to the inhabitants of Chichén Itzá it was most likely perceived as a sign from one of the gods. It is easy to imagine how this site became invested with sacredness and it is understandable that offerings were made into a cenote that could change color. Thus, at the bottom of this well there have been found countless skeletons and an abundance of jewelery. Because the Mayans were an agricultural people, the sacrifice was made to Chac, the rain god, in order to insure a healthy crop. The Mayans obviously found this well to be sacred and included this cenote in many religious ceremonies (see Water and the Sacred).
The famous Ball Court is found to the west, with the Temple of the Warriors located at one end of it. The Ball Court was used to play a game in which the players were supposed to keep a ball off of the ground using any body part except their hands. To score points, the ball had to go through a small stone circle which was hanging high on either side of the playing field. Unfortunately the losing team was generally sacrificed. The acoustics of the Ball Court enable a whisper at one end to be heard clearly at the other, which is particularly remarkable because this is the largest court of its kind (545 ft. X 225 ft.) ever to have been found. The Temple of the Warriors is an imposing temple that contains within it the Chac Mool. This is a stone figure carved into a semi-reclining position. On its stomach there is a small basin in which was placed the still-beating hearts of sacrificed victims.
To the east one comes across the Group of the Thousand Columns, which was probably a market place. The older buildings are located to the south, behind the newer section of the city. Even after the newer building came into existence, these buildings still remained in use.
Another important structure is the Caracol, which is a tall building with a domed top. Throughout it there are small windows through which the stars, moon and planets could be observed. This is evidence of the Mayans highly developed astronomical skills. They invented amazingly accurate calendar systems and relied on astronomy to tell them when to plant, harvest, etc. This is part of the reason the Mayans are seen as such a highly developed people, in conjunction with the hieroglyphic writing they devised and their ability to create this city without the help of metal tools, animals or the wheel.
Thus, Chichén Itzá is a site that is still shrouded in mystery. It is unclear why the city was abandoned and how it became to be in two drastically different styles of architecture. By examining the sculptures and building adornments, the evidence of sacrifices, and acknowledging the effort put into creating a city that has buildings with such perfect architecture, it is quite obvious that the Mayan people held this site to be sacred.
Bibliography
- Andrews, George F. Maya Cities: Placemaking and Urbanization. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1975.
- Morris, Ann Axtell. Digging in Yucatán. New York: Country Life Press, 1931.
- Morris, Earl H. The Temple of the Warriors. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1931.
- Proskouriakoff, Tatiana. An Album of Maya Architecture. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1963.
- Wilson, Colin. The Atlas of Holy Places and Sacred Sites. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1996.
Additional Links
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Lascaux, France
Giza, Egypt
Stonehenge, England
Newgrange, Ireland
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Delphi, Greece
Athenian Acropolis, Greece
Holy Sepulchre, Israel
Dome of the Rock, Israel
Chartres, France
Lourdes, France
Shrine at Ise, Japan
Bodh Gaya, India
Teotihuacán, Mexico
St. Peter's Basilica, Italy
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mosque of Córdoba, Spain
Kata Tjuta, Australia
Sacred Symbols
and Shapes
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