Chichen Itza was founded by the Itza, a Mayan tribe, and was once one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan peninsula. The Mayan civilization created the most highly developed writing system in the Americas before Columbus landed. The Mayans are also known for a sophisticated calendar and ...

• Chichen Itza buildings were originally brightly painted in shades of red, green, and blue.
• The wealthy wore similarly colorful dyed clothes made from animal skins.
• The staple of the Mayan diet, maize, was often boiled in water with lime and eaten as a gruel or porridge m...

• The court of Chichen Itza is a massive 225 feet wide and 545 feet long.
• At the ends of the court, the stone walls featured stone hoops, engraved with feathered serpents - images of the deity Kokulkan.
• The court has excellent acoustic qualities, amplifying the cheers of fan...