Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Chichn Itz is deservedly one of the most famous Mayan cities. From the magnificent pyramid of El Castillo to the huge Great Ballcourt, its staggering size and amazing architecture are world-renowned and nearly unparalleled in the long history of the Mayan civilization. If you plan a visit to this remarkable site, you'll surely have a long list of buildings, sculptures, frescoes, temples, and courtyards to visit. However, even travelers who have made several visits to the site often overlook several rather diminutive features, which despite their size and unassuming nature are no less magnificent than the tallest pyramid.
First is the Red House, or Casa Colorada, which takes its name from the shards of red paint that were discovered on the floor within the building. In the Nahuatl language, the Red House is called Chichancob, which most likely means small holes, a reference to the roof made of lime comb. However, the building's most salient feature is not its paint scheme nor its roof, but rather, its walls.
The Chichancob consists of four rooms, including an antechamber and external ball court adjacent to the back wall. Each room has walls filled with intricately carved hieroglyphs. One of the most well-preserved of all Chichn Itz's structures, the Red House's panoply of carvings have been dated to as early as 869 AD, and appear to tell stories about the rulers and nobility of the city over the generations. The building was probably constructed specifically to house these glyphs, and today they stand as a perplexing but intriguing testament to the longevity of the Mayans, and indeed of Chichn Itz itself.
The Temple of the Three Lintels
The Temple of the Three Lintels was, in all likelihood, not a temple at all, but rather a residence for Chichn Itz's royals or nobility. It takes it name from the elaborate hieroglyphs that rest above the structure's three entrances. Otherwise, however, the building is quite plain and modest; the outer walls lack ornamentation other than a lattice-like pattern of crosses on the cornice, making it a surprisingly unassuming place for royalty to dwell.
Offerings seem to have been commonly made at the Temple of the Three Lintels, as various remains pointing to the famous Mayan fire fire rituals have been uncovered by archaeologists. Each of the upper corners contain Chac masks with long noses, thought to have been designed in tribute to the Mayan god of rain. These masks were a common feature of Mayan architecture, being featured on nearly every building at the Chichn Itz site.
Temple of the Bearded Man
Another site worth investigating, which is often overshadowed by a nearby famous structure, is the North Temple, or Temple of the Bearded Man. Lying as it does at one end of the Great Ballcourt, many visitors pass by this interesting building without taking much notice. However, the intricate carvings and bas relief artwork that cover the interior walls are certainly worth a look. Most notable is the temple's namesake, a central figure with carvings under his chin that give the impression of facial hair.
First is the Red House, or Casa Colorada, which takes its name from the shards of red paint that were discovered on the floor within the building. In the Nahuatl language, the Red House is called Chichancob, which most likely means small holes, a reference to the roof made of lime comb. However, the building's most salient feature is not its paint scheme nor its roof, but rather, its walls.
The Chichancob consists of four rooms, including an antechamber and external ball court adjacent to the back wall. Each room has walls filled with intricately carved hieroglyphs. One of the most well-preserved of all Chichn Itz's structures, the Red House's panoply of carvings have been dated to as early as 869 AD, and appear to tell stories about the rulers and nobility of the city over the generations. The building was probably constructed specifically to house these glyphs, and today they stand as a perplexing but intriguing testament to the longevity of the Mayans, and indeed of Chichn Itz itself.
The Temple of the Three Lintels
The Temple of the Three Lintels was, in all likelihood, not a temple at all, but rather a residence for Chichn Itz's royals or nobility. It takes it name from the elaborate hieroglyphs that rest above the structure's three entrances. Otherwise, however, the building is quite plain and modest; the outer walls lack ornamentation other than a lattice-like pattern of crosses on the cornice, making it a surprisingly unassuming place for royalty to dwell.
Offerings seem to have been commonly made at the Temple of the Three Lintels, as various remains pointing to the famous Mayan fire fire rituals have been uncovered by archaeologists. Each of the upper corners contain Chac masks with long noses, thought to have been designed in tribute to the Mayan god of rain. These masks were a common feature of Mayan architecture, being featured on nearly every building at the Chichn Itz site.
Temple of the Bearded Man
Another site worth investigating, which is often overshadowed by a nearby famous structure, is the North Temple, or Temple of the Bearded Man. Lying as it does at one end of the Great Ballcourt, many visitors pass by this interesting building without taking much notice. However, the intricate carvings and bas relief artwork that cover the interior walls are certainly worth a look. Most notable is the temple's namesake, a central figure with carvings under his chin that give the impression of facial hair.
About the Author:
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