The
sacred city of the Itza, is located 75 miles east of Merida, the
Capital of the State of Yucatan, Mexico. This archaeological site is
rated among the most important of the Maya culture and covers an
area of approximately six square miles where hundreds of buildings
once stood.
Many temples and palaces of Chichen Itza were constructed in the
traditional Puuc Maya style. These buildings can be found in the "Old
Chichén" section of the city and most are dedicated to the rain god
Chac.This style is quite similar to the palaces at the Puuc sites of
Kabah, Sayil, Labná and Xlapak.These sites was built in the late
Classic period.
The" New Chichen" is situated north of "Old chichen"and
this section of city is mixture of Maya and Toltec styles.
It seems that the "Old Chichen" is older than The New Chichen.
Places of central Mexico was built in Toltec style during
postclassic period.Some believe that the Toltecs(Tula -around the
years 968-1168 A.D) invaded the Itza at Chichen and forced their
architecture and belief system on them. But It is probable that most
constructions was built around the turn of the 9th century. Old
sites was empty in the north Yucatan in this time.Traditional
Yucatan clans and incomers (Mayas affected by Central Mexico culture)
built the Cosmopolitan Chichen Itza. The same situation occurred in
the Mayapan 300 years later.
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