By popular vote some reordering of the Seven Wonders of the World includes North America’s Chichen Itza on the Southern tip of Mexico. According to World Atlas dot com Mexico is part of North America. Two South American wonders, The Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and Machu Picchu in Peru were also named on the new list of seven wonders. A non profit organization called New7wonders conducted the survey, sponsored by UNESCO, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, according to news sources. Other notables on the list are: the Taj Majal, The Great Wall of China, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, and the Colosseum in Italy.
I visited the Sacred Wells of Chichen Itza, the pyramid, El Castillo and the incredible Ball Court of Chizen Itza. The site is deserving of the designation as a wonder of the world. Chichen Itza is noted as a Mayan structure, but it has additional influences by the Toltecs. Chichen is divided into two sections. The old, Chichen Viejo and new, Chichen Nuevo. The pyramid that is designated as the new wonder is a Toltec influenced structure that is part of the new Chichen. The Mayans designed the original site in 450 AD. Sometime later Central Mexico’s Itza invaded and eventually conquered the Mayans.
The influence of Toltecs architecture created the pyramid and sacred wells. The Mayans worshiped the rain God Chaac, and revered the ancient Toltec God Quetzalcoatl , known as Kukulkan. The Itzas of Central Mexico worshiped the same Plumed Serpent, Kukulkan. The pyramid is dedicated to the God Kulkukan. By 1150 the Mayans were entirely taken over by the invading Itzas. Some authorities consider a third culture or middle culture in the architectural scheme. To see the marked differences between the two cultures see, http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/chichen/chichen_kukul.html It was the promise that the wise leader favored by the gods symbolized by the Plumed Serpent that eventually brought down the Aztecs when Montezuma 11 mistook Herman Cortez for Kukulkan.
Chichen Itza is located in the humid climate of the Yucatan Peninsula in Southern Mexico. The closest town is Merida. Presently, there are excursion buses that will take you to the site. It costs approximately $35 US dollars. The Yucatan is a composite of early influences and modern Mexico. The people take particular pride in their Indian culture more than any other state in Mexico. For good reason, the ancient Indian cultures of the Mayans and Toltecs invented the 18 month calendar, their use of the 0 preceded the adoption of the null by the Egyptians by centuries. The people of Chichen Itza were an advanced culture unrivaled in the Americas. Their knowledge of astronomy, physics and architecture was far beyond their rivals continents away.
As an example, the pyramid El Castillo is an architectural wonder in both sound and visual impact. I did not travel all the way to the top because the humidity is draining, but my companion did go to the top. It is true that the sound carries from top to the bottom of the pyramid in an extraordinary manner. He could speak in a normal voice at the top of the platform nearly 75 feet away and it was as if he was standing next to me. The pyramid is based on the number of days of the year and the 18 month Mayan calendar. There are 91 steps to the platform and the temple sits on the platform. During the Equinox the lighting makes it appear that the plumed serpent is crawling up the stairs. It is a visual effect that no doubt was considered by the ancient architects.
The Ball Court adjacent to the great pyramid is another wonder. It has been studied by musicologists and sound experts due to the phenomenal clarity of sound. While standing in the court you can imagine the ancient game of soccer/basketball being played. The game involved six member teams and the object of the game was to land the ball in a wired hoop. The winner won the distinction of being offered to the ancient gods in honor of his triumph. It is an eerie site. The sound is phenomenal, but there is an air of the supernatural present at this site. Legend has it that on December 22, 2012 the Great Plumed Serpent will rise again and end the world as we know it and make the world a better place.
I would recommend traveling to this wonder of the world from October to April. The heat and humidity is treacherous during the Summer. There are various new hotels close to Chichen Itza that provide unlimited access to the ancient ruins of these brilliant American cultures. I would recommend staying at one of the new hotels because Merida is an over crowded city.
Reference:
- World Mysteries.com
