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[[Image:Kukulcan3.jpg|thumb|350px|The Temple of Kukulcan (''El Castillo'')]]'''Chichen Itza''' is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in [[Yucatan]], [[Mexico]]. The site was an important [[Maya]]n city-state through both the Late Classic and the Early Post-Classic periods.  

[[Image:Kukulcan3.jpg|thumb|350px|The Temple of Kukulcan (''El Castillo'')]]'''Chichen Itza''' is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site in [[Yucatan]], [[Mexico]]. The site was an important [[Maya]]n city-state through both the Late Classic and the Early Post-Classic periods.  

The name (pronounced "chich-EN  it-ZA") means "The mouth of the well of the Itza" (or "At the edge of the well of the Water Sorcerers" according to some authorities) owing to the large sacred [[cenote]]. The site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was recently voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.[http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=633&L=0]

The name (pronounced "chich-EN  it-ZA") means "The mouth of the well of the Itza" (or "At the edge of the well of the Water Sorcerers" according to some authorities) owing to the large sacred [[cenote]]. The site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was recently voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.<ref>[http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=633&L=0 New 7 Wonders]</ref>

[[Image:CI_-_cath.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Catherwood's illustration of the The Temple of Kukulcan]] Following the Spanish conquest of Yucatan in 1547 when it was mentioned by Fray Diego de Landa in his apologia, ''Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan'' (''Account of the things of Yucatan''), the site was forgotten until the American explorer and diplomat John Lloyd Stevens accompanied by the British draftsman Frederick Catherwood rediscovered the site in the early 1840s.  The publication of Stephens' ''Incidents of Travel in Yucatan'' in 1843 with Catherwood's illustrations revealed Chichen Itza to the world.  In the 19th century many other travelers and explorers reached the site to study the buildings, including Desire Charney, Alfred P. Maudslay, Augustin le Plongeon and Teobert Maler. Edward H. Thompson, the American consul in Merida, bought the land and explored the Sacred Cenote, recovering many objects from the well, including bones, pottery, beads, jade and gold.  Most of these objects were sent abroad but some are exhibited in the Museum of Anthropology in Merida.

[[Image:CI_-_cath.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Catherwood's illustration of the The Temple of Kukulcan]] Following the Spanish conquest of Yucatan in 1547 when it was mentioned by Fray Diego de Landa in his apologia, ''Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan'' (''Account of the things of Yucatan''), the site was forgotten until the American explorer and diplomat John Lloyd Stevens accompanied by the British draftsman Frederick Catherwood rediscovered the site in the early 1840s.  The publication of Stephens' ''Incidents of Travel in Yucatan'' in 1843 with Catherwood's illustrations revealed Chichen Itza to the world.  In the 19th century many other travelers and explorers reached the site to study the buildings, including Desire Charney, Alfred P. Maudslay, Augustin le Plongeon and Teobert Maler. Edward H. Thompson, the American consul in Merida, bought the land and explored the Sacred Cenote, recovering many objects from the well, including bones, pottery, beads, jade and gold.  Most of these objects were sent abroad but some are exhibited in the Museum of Anthropology in Merida.

[[Image:Jade offering2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Jade offering (Post-Classic period) from the Sacred Cenote]]  

[[Image:Jade offering2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Jade offering (Post-Classic period) from the Sacred Cenote]]  

==History==

==History==

==The Buildings==

==The Buildings==

The site contains several stone buildings occupying an area of 4 square miles. The stepped-pyramid Temple of Kukulcan (named "El Castillo" - the castle -  by the Spanish), is the most well-known edifice. The High Priest's Temple is a small replica of "the Castillo" Pyramid; the name comes from an elite burial discovered by early excavator, the American archaeologist [[Edward H. Thompson]] (1856 - 1935).

The site contains several stone buildings occupying an area of 4 square miles. The stepped-pyramid Temple of Kukulcan (named "El Castillo" - the castle -  by the Spanish), is the most well-known edifice. The High Priest's Temple is a small replica of "the Castillo" Pyramid; the name comes from an elite burial discovered by early excavator, the American archaeologist [[Edward H. Thompson]] (1856 - 1935).

== Mayan world ==

<!--== Mayan world ==

Other cities in the Mayan world as Chichén Itza are [[Calakmul]] in [[Campeche]] and [[Tikal]] in Guatemala.

Other cities in the Mayan world as Chichén Itza are in [[Campeche]] and [[Tikal]] in Guatemala.-->

== References ==

== References ==

 

*Thompson, Edward H., People of the Serpent, 1932.

*Thompson, Edward H., People of the Serpent, 1932.

*Thompson, Edward H., 1938, The high priest's grave, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.  Field Museum of Natural History Anthropological Series Vol. 27, No. 1.  

*Thompson, Edward H., 1938, The high priest's grave, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.  Field Museum of Natural History Anthropological Series Vol. 27, No. 1.  

== See also ==

== See also ==

 

*[[Tikal]]

*[[Tikal]]

*[[Jaina]]

*[[Uxmal]]