In addition, to the main El Castillo, we explored the Great Ball Court in the northwest of the Castillo. It is considered the largest ball court in ancient Mesoamerica, measuring 166 by 68 meters (545 x 223 feet). The imposing walls are 12 meters (39 ft) high, and in the center, high up on each of the long walls, are rings carved with intertwining serpents. At the base of the high interior walls are slanted benches with sculpted panels of teams of ball players. In one panel, one of the players has been decapitated and from the wound emits seven streams of blood; six become wriggling serpents and the center becomes a winding plant.
Another interesting thing about the Great Ball Court is that the acoustic phenomenon. If one speaks in the Temple in the southern end the voice can be heard at the opposite end. Also if one claps or makes a sound, there is exactly 7 echos that can be heard.
The other sites we visited in Chichen Itza was Tzompantli, which is a low flat platform surrounded with carved depictions of human skulls. We also visited the Temple of Xtoloc (Mayan word for iguana). It contains series of pilasters carved with images of people and representations of plants, birds, and mythical scenes. OUr last stop was El Caracol (the snail). It is theorized to have been a proto-observatory with doors and windows aligned to astronomical events. It is also one of the few circular structures built by the Mayans.
Chichen Itza was a great experience and a place worth visiting.
