Mexico is a great place to go for vacations, but honestly, are there only Mexicans in Mexico? Of course not, there are the Mayans. Now who the Mayans are will be explained later, but there is one touristic place to find a bunch of the Mayans in Mexico: Chichen Itza.
First of all, it is important that everyone knows just who the Mayans are. They are their ancestors. The Mayans came before the Mexicans, but how can anyone tell them apart? The Mayans have more almond shaped eyes, and they also have longer necks. Mayans also have darker skin than the Mexicans. The Mayans had a very strong military and quite some intimidating sports. But the Mayans led a peaceful life with each other, which is not the case of people of today. People today are always fighting, there is a huge infestation of bullies that pick on smaller people because they are insecure, and neighbours can be extremely selfish. Those were only three of what could have been said. Honestly all the possibilities could probably fill up these entire two pages. The Mayans lived in harmony, and worked together to live peacefully, feed their children, etc. The life could have also been scary.
One of the greatest homes where the calendar was built, and many Mayans live, is Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza (or as some people like to jokingly say Chicken Pizza), is actually one of the Seven Great Wonders of the World! There are 364 steps on Chichen Itza. There are four sides to it, and each side has 91 steps. Multiply that by four and that make 364 The calendar was created from the steps of Chichen Itza. Notice how there are 364 steps on Chichen Itza? That is how many days are in a year. Each step of Chichen Itza represents one day of the year. Now there is one extra thing that represents the leap year. It is believed that there are 364 steps, but there is one final step at the top that represents the leap day: the 365th step. There is a second calendar they believe in though, which is shortened to 220 days in a year. This one is tied to rituals, while the one believed in by everyone in the world is tied to Astronomy. There is a trick at Chichen Itza (this has nothing to do with the calendar anymore), that is when a pole that is not connected to the roof is found, it represents a Mayan Warrior guarding that area of Chichen Itza.
Remember the 2012 rumor that the world is going to end, well that was created by the Mayans. The Mayans believe that on certain years, there will be a day where the world will end. Such as this year on December 23rd. This theory was made by the Mayans on August 13th 3114 B.C. It is believed that in order to stop it a Mayan warrior must be sacrificed. There are other sacrifices made as well. When touring Chichen Itza be sure to look at the Sacrificial Pit, which when someone is pushed in they disappear and never come back out. This occurred when there were droughts so that it could rain again and their crops could grow. So the sacrifice would go to the Chac god, their god of rain and lightning. They did it so that he would accept the sacrifice, and make it rain again. Without their crops they had no vegetable, which was a major part of their food system. It is also predicted that only virgins were thrown in as sacrifice by Bishop Landa.
The Mayan sport was tricky, and something anybody smart would not like to be involved with it a part from watching. Anybody who played in that sport had guts, were honourable, and were extremely strong. There was a rubber ball that they had to somehow get to the captains, who were higher up on the ball court, without using their hands or feet. They hit it up because slightly below the captains were the hoops in which they needed to somehow get the ball into. This game was sometimes played to the death, and the winning captain would present his head to the losing captain, who would then decapitate him. This though, for the Mayans, was honourable, because he would automatically be sent to heaven instead of doing the usually thirteen steps. When the games begin though, how can everybody hear the ruler? He turns around, and speaks into his sitting area, which is like a bullhorn.
So now, more ancient history is known. The Mayans can be found in Mexico today, and Chichen Itza is a fascinating place to see. It would be nice to see one of the Seven Great Wonders of the World. Be sure to check it out when visiting Mexico.
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