Page 16 - Southern Exposure - July '23

Page 16, Southern Exposure

travel from page 14

Chichén Itzá was
subdivided and separated into
various sites that at one time
were separated by low walls.
Three of these sites dominate
today’s features: the Great
North Platform, the Ossario
Group and the Central Group.
The Temple of Kukulkan,
a pyramid, dominates the
Great North Platform and is
by far the most photographed
structure; it’s the symbol of
Chichén Itzá. It is also known
as El Castillo or “the castle.”
The structure, which was View of the Great Ball Court from El Castillo A sacbe at the Dzibilchaltun ruin, Yucatán
constructed right on top of
an older one, towers over the site and stands eight stories
(79 feet) above the main grass plaza in the city. Each side
of the pyramid has a single run of stairs, each with 91 steps
that culminate at a platform on top. A square structure is
located on top of the platform with an opening on all four
sides and is one step higher. A carving at the top temple is
a plumed serpent that’s symbolic of Quetzalcóatl, one of
the deities of ancient Mesoamerica.
The Mayans were amazing astronomers and it is believed
that El Castillo is an example of their sense of time, with four
sets of 91 steps equaling 364 and the step on top rounding
off to 365, the number of days in the year. The pyramid has A stone ring on the Great Ball Court
been intentionally erected with each side facing a cardinal
direction. During the fall and spring equinoxes, the walls that naming it a chaacmol. Today it is called
frame the sides of the stairs cast shadows on the stairs that a chac mool.
resemble a snake slithering down the pyramid (Kukulkan is Chichén Itzá is a UNESCO World
a snake deity). Heritage Site, and reported to be the
The Red Jaguar Throne lies within the main pyramid second most visited archeological site
structure. Many years ago I was able to climb this interior in Mexico. I would suspect that the U.S.
pyramid and view the throne, which was studded with jade. cruise industry along with the tourist
Because of a tragic accident several years ago, climbing both development in Cancún and Riviera
the interior and exterior is now prohibited. Maya have played the largest influence Cenote Xtoloc
The second most impressive structure in the Great North on obtaining this ranking. It is a great
Platform is the Great Ball Court. It measures 545 by 225 daytrip visit from either of these vacation
feet, making it the largest of all of the ball courts discovered opportunities. Don’t forget your camera
to date in Mesoamerica. Located on the longer sides of the and walking shoes.
court, which stand 40 feet high, are stone rings that project The late Don Kiselewski wrote from
from the wall with a hole in the center, which is the goal. his personal experiences, having traveled
Surrounding the ball court are numerous temples, which in 122 countries and cruised the oceans,
include the Temple of the Bearded Man, the North and South seas and rivers of the world. Palm Beach
Temples, and the Upper and Lower Temples of the Jaguar. Gardens Travel Leaders, his family
Cenote is the name given to the sinkholes that collect water owned and operated agency, is located
on the Yucatán. The Sacred Cenote (or Cenote Sagrado) is a at Mirasol Town Square, 11360 North
very special place in Chichén Itzá. It is the place of pilgrimage Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6, Palm
for ancient Mayan people, who conducted sacrifices and made Beach Gardens. The agency has been
offerings to their gods during times of drought. The Cenote serving the travel needs of the South
Sagrado is 200 feet in diameter and has sheer walls that drop Florida area for over a quarter of a
to the water table 80 feet below. Archeological investigations century. Contact them at (561) 694-9696 El Caracol
at the bottom of this water hole have revealed gold, jade and or Aussie@PBGTravel.com. Photos by Don Kiselewski
obsidian, as well as skeletons of children and men.
The Ossario Group has the second largest cenote in the
city. It is called Xtoloc, which is the Mayan word for iguana.
The Temple of Xtoloc, the House of the Metates and House of
the Mestizas are also located in the city division. The houses
are believed by archeologists to have been the residences of
important personages.
El Caracol is built on a platform and is a round structure,
with a dome-shaped roof, unlike any other at Chichén Itzá.
Located within the Central Group, it has doors and windows
in alignment with the heavens. Its name means “snail” and it
is referred to as “the observatory” with alignments that focus
on the path of Venus as it moves across the sky.
Unlike structures built out of stone carved from mountains,
the building blocks for the city of Chichén Itzá had to come
from below the ground. About four miles west of the city,
a number of caves have been found created by the removal
of building stones. Known as Balankanché, these caves are
considered sacred and have yielded numerous artifacts.
The altar of the Mayans was a stone table modeled after
a reclining man with his knees and shoulders raised leaning
on his elbows, holding a plate or bowl on his stomach. This
altar was used for human sacrifice. In 1875, Augustus and
Alice Le Plongeon were the first to excavate this figure

Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
Palm Beach County and is a privately
owned and managed company.
Captain’s is committed to providing
dependable, reliable and professional
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212
To reserve your vehicle:
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com