Between the 3rd and 9th centuries, the Mayans built hundreds
of
impressive pyramids. El Castillo de Chichen Itza, situated in the
Yucatan peninsula, is a perfect example. This pyramid built with
stones and a powerful mortar possesses a much sharper
angle than any
other built in Egypt. Its nine-tier architecture includes four
staircases that narrow out bringing ones attention to the altar at
the top. The pyramid has precisely 365 steps, one for each day
of
the year. With its square base, it measures 180 feet (55
meters)
across, 79 feet high (24 meters) and covers 32,258 square feet
(3,000 square meters) The Temple's sanctuary which sits at
the top
of the pyramid, welcomed priests that conducted the religious
rituals, that once included human sacrifices. In 1930,
archaeologists were surprised in finding a smaller, older
temple
inside the Chitchen Itza Pyramid. This temple measured 98 feet
(30
meters) across and was 52 feet (16 meters) tall. Its presence
clearly shows that some pyramids were enlarged in the course
of
history and would become bigger with each new regime.
The rich Mayan civilization was spread through modern day
Mexico,
Belize. Guatemala and Honduras. This gifted nation outdid
itself in
architecture, mathematics and astronomy. This essentially
urban
civilization erected such famous cities as: Palenque, Tikal and
Chitchen Itza, a 740 acres (300 hectares) city. Sadly, there are
only three original manuscripts left that would permit study of
the
ideograms of Mayan writings. The Spaniards had destroyed
them in
belief' that they were the Devil's work. Today, there arc about two
million descendants of the Mayan people who still live
principally
in Mexico and Guatemala.
