2021-Mexico

The Pyramid of Kukulkan is a temple structure among the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza. The Maya Kukulkan was an analogue of the god Quetzalcoatl. The height of the pyramid is 24 m (plus another 6 m - the height of the temple at the top), the length of each of its sides is 55 m. Each face of the temple has 9 steps. On all four sides from the base to the top of the pyramid are four steep stairs, oriented to the cardinal points. At the top of the pyramid is a small temple with four entrances. It was where sacrifices were made.

The Pyramid of Kukulkan is a temple structure among the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza. The Maya Kukulkan was an analogue of the god Quetzalcoatl. The height of the pyramid is 24 m (plus another 6 m - the height of the temple at the top), the length of each of its sides is 55 m. Each face of the temple has 9 steps. On all four sides from the base to the top of the pyramid are four steep stairs, oriented to the cardinal points. At the top of the pyramid is a small temple with four entrances. It was where sacrifices were made.

The Pyramid of Kukulkan is a temple structure among the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza. The Maya Kukulkan was an analogue of the god Quetzalcoatl. The height of the pyramid is 24 m (plus another 6 m - the height of the temple at the top), the length of each of its sides is 55 m. Each face of the temple has 9 steps. On all four sides from the base to the top of the pyramid are four steep stairs, oriented to the cardinal points. At the top of the pyramid is a small temple with four entrances. It was where sacrifices were made.

This photo taken from out of playing court

Gran Juego de Pelota - the great ball court. If a player hit the ball through this stone hoop, his team was declared the winner. The game used molded (hard) rubber balls

Gran Juego de Pelota - the great ball court. If a player hit the ball through this stone hoop, his team was declared the winner. The game used molded (hard) rubber balls

The great ball court, the largest and most impressive in Mexico. The court is bounded by towering parallel walls with stone rings cemented up high. It is thought that they played a soccer-like game with a hard rubber ball, with the use of hands forbidden. It appears that if a player hit the ball through one of the stone hoops, his team was declared the winner. The court exhibits some interesting acoustics: a conversation at one end can be heard 135m away at the other, and a clap produces multiple loud echoes.

Spanish expeditions landed at what is now Campeche in March 1517,. The city was founded on October 4, 1540 by the Spanish conquistadors at the site of the Mayan settlement. The name Campeche comes from the name of this Mayan settlement called "Ah-Kin-Pech". This local name means "place of snakes and ticks". In the XVII-XVIII centuries it was surrounded by a fortress wall from pirates. In 1686, the Spanish authorities began to build fortifications. In 1777, San Francisco de Campeche was given city status and a coat of arms. In April 1863, the city became the capital of the state of Campeche.