Chichʼen Itzaʼ

This is my first postcard I've ever received from Mexico, one of my ultimate bucket list places. It's not only a dream coming only from mere sympathy, upon seeing the photos of the beautiful places this country has, it roots in my research on the painter Frida Kahlo, which dates back to my university studies and continued in the very first Frida Kahlo exhibition held in Hungary :)
Kahlo's art is intertwined with Pre-hispanic or Pre-Columbian culture, the era before the European conquest of the Americas. Chichen Itzá is one of the iconic cities of that era in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Chichen Itzá is an ancient Mayan city, established ca. 500 AD. The city's name means "At the mouth of the well of the Itza." It flourished as the regional capital between 800 and 1000, then declined by around 1250.

One of the key sights to see is the El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulcan, a step-pyramid built to the god Kukulkan, the Yucatec Maya Feathered Serpent deity. The pyramid was built between from the 9th to 12th centuries. The stepped pyramid base is 24 meters tall and there is a 6 meter tall temple on the top. Plumed serpent sculptures, Kukulkan depictions, run down the sides of the northern balustrade which can be seen on the left detail photo.
During the 1930s, archeological excavations were performed and many religious and sacrificial object were discovered inside the pyramid. Among them, an exceptional Red Jaguar throne was found.

Chichen Itzá is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 and El Castillo was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

From: P. E.
Date: February 2013