The Astronomy of Chitzen-Itza

7/28/2019 The Astronomy of Chitzen-Itza

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The Astronomy of Chitzen-Itza

By: Alexa March


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Overview

Over spring break I went to Mexico with myfamily. We were very lucky to get theopportunity to visit Chitzen-Itza during our

vacation. It was a great experience and I wassurprised and excited to learn of how involvedin astronomy the Mayans were. I learned a lotand glad Im able to share that information

with you in this powerpoint presentationincluding the pictures of the city I took myself.Enjoy!


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History of Chitzen-Itza

Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C., they

rose to prominence around A.D. 250 in present-

day southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize

and western Honduras. Building on the inheritedinventions and ideas of earlier civilizations such

as the Olmec, the Maya developed astronomy,

calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing. The

city started to decline around A.D. 900 when - for

reasons which are still largely a mystery - the

southern Maya abandoned their cities.


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EL CASTLLO, The

Pyramid of Kukulkan


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The temple is 91 ft. high, with two sides

completely restored and the other two in the

original state

There are 91 steps on each side plus the platformat the top as the final step makes the of 365 steps

to represent each day of the solar year


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On the spring and autumn equinox, the

shadow of the Sun on the stars causes the

illusion of a snake moving down the

pyramid.

At the top of the pyramid in the templeare carvings of Chac, the rain god and

Quetzalcoatl, the serpent god

Every year tens of thousands of people

flock to see this


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THE CARACOL, The

Observatory


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The intense interest of the Maya in the annual

travels of the sun across the sky is evident in many

structures at Chichn-Itz and other Mayan Sites.

Thought to house the oldest constructions, the

Nunnery and the Church, were believed to be

responsible for holding up the heavens.


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Several of its windows point towards the equinox

sunset and the southernmost and northernmost points

on the horizon where Venus rises.

Tower was used for astronomy; its windows werealigned with the four cardinal directions and the

position of the setting sun at the equinoxes.

One window marks an appearance of Venus at a

particular point on the horizon that takes place, like

clockwork, once every eight years.


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_02.JPG


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THE PLATFORM OF VENUS
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_02.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_02.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPG


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A platform dedicated to the planet Venus

located near the grave of the High Priest

The function of this platform was probably for

ceremonies, rites, and dances
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPGhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Platform_of_Venus_Chichen_Itza_01.JPG


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More pictures of the Mayan city


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The Ball Court


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The Cenote


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THE END

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The Astronomy of Chitzen-Itza