Chichen Itza, a sprawling Mayan city in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, thrived from 600 to 1200 CE and ranks among the modern Seven Wonders of the World. At its heart stands El Castillo, a 79-foot step pyramid dedicated to Kukulkan, the feathered serpent god. This architectural marvel, built around 800-900 CE, doubles as a calendar—its 91 steps per side, plus the top platform, total 365, mirroring the solar year. During equinoxes, shadows cast a serpent slithering down its steps, a testament to Mayan astronomical prowess. The city, once a political and cultural hub, spans 4 square miles, featuring the Great Ball Court—largest in Mesoamerica—and the eerie Cenote Sagrado, a sacrificial sinkhole. Influenced by Toltec culture after 1000 CE, its carvings depict warriors and deities. Declining by 1200, it lay reclaimed by jungle until excavations in the 19th century. Now a UNESCO site, Chichen Itza’s twilight glow reveals a legacy of ingenuity, spirituality, and ancient power. __________________ AI image created with Elon Musk's Grok3. Click the Seven Wonders album which will eventually contain all.
