Maya Sacred Sites

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Lak'ech Ala K'in "I am you, and you are me." Maya Greeting

Sacred Cenotes and the Chicxulub meteorite

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Sacred Cenotes "Dzonot"

"The sacred door to the underworld"

These magical bodies of water are connected underground, sometimes creating caves, open wells (Dzibilchaltún) and ponds (Chichén Itzá). There are 2 kinds; the young ones, with rapid moving water and the old ones, with slower flow due to sediments or/and collapse. The Maya Motul Dictionary of Hieroglyphics defines "dzonot" as "abysmal and deep". Two hundred and fifty million years of dramatic changes in sea level formed spectacular caves and caverns. Many were created by a meteorite impact.

Because of their alignment with the rim of the Impact Crater, many of the Cenotes, are being linked to the Chicxulub meteorite impact (65 million years ago).
This meteorite impact is associated with 75% of the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
The impact crater (110 miles diameter) is buried underneath the Yucatán Peninsula with its center near a small town; Chicxulub or "the tail of the devil".
México is home of the 5 biggest caves registered in the world. Over 7,000 cenotes (less than half being studied). Some of them have ancient Maya glyphs, paintings, ceramics and burials.
They still provide a source of fresh water in the rural communities. In some of them, you can see bubbles from the fresh water spring underneath.
Some accessible for swimming, snorkeling and cave diving. If you are going to cave dive, you have to be an experience scuba diver and have a guide.
In many of the cenotes, we still can see the offerings from the Maya to their Gods. Please respect them.
If you swim, do not use sunscreen, do not eat and do not be loud.

Children jumping Cenote X'Ke K'en

CHAMÁN - Scha - Knowledge - Individual that has the capacity to modify reality or collective perception of the reality. Healing, communicating with soul, visionaries and foretelling the future and knowing the past of someone, are some of the attributes that they have.

Journey to the Magical World of the Maya
Driving in Yucatan
Diving, fishing and scuba Yucatán TRAVEL ESSENTIANS CHECKLIST: Passport, Visas, Warnings

MAYA LEGENDS, KNOWLEDGE AND MYTHS

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Cueva de Balankache, Museum

POPOL VUH

The Sacred Maya Book Popol Vuh describes the creation of the earth by the forces of sea and sky. According to this book, the earth was created and destroyed three times before this world was made.
First the Mother Earth had animals, then, wet clay, after the clay the wood came to the earth. Then, the creation of the first ancestors made of clay; they didn't last long. Then, he created a man made of wood; it didn't work, he didn't praise the gods.
The god got very angry at his own creation and cut off his head. He sent a terrible flood to Mother Earth that destroyed all his creation. Then, he made man from maize dough, the man of corn and he was happy with his creation.
The first father of men was Hu'Nal'Ye. He was killed by the "lords of X'ibalba". They buried him under a ball game, which is the representation of death and re-birth.
Hu'Nal'ye had twin sons: H'unah'Pu and X'balanque. These two semi-gods were very smart. They went into the underworld and took out their father's head. He resuscitated from the crack of a turtle when his sons brought him back from X'ibalba. He was the one that created our world. The date of the creation was Day 4 AHAU 8 KUMKU which corresponds to the date of August 13, 3114 B.C.
This date is very important to Mother Earth. Light didn't exist until this day, then; he organized the stars and wrote in them everything he did, so that in the future, man could read it.
He made a cross. At the top was ZAC or North, he painted it in white. At the bottom, the South or KAN that was yellow. At the right was CHAC or East, and he painted it red. At the left of the cross was the West or Black and he named it EK. The center of the cross was green, he called it YAAX.

Cenote X'KeKen

CHILAM BALAM of CHUMAYEL- The Sacred Maya Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel relates the collapse of the sky and the erection of the five World Trees. Four world trees in the corners and a main one in the center of the Earth. The murals in San Bartolo have a Principal Bird Deity seated on top of each of four world trees, recalling the four world trees which, according to the Chilam Balam books, were re-erected after the collapse of the sky. These world trees were associated with specific birds. Four world trees also appear in the Mexican Borgia Codex. The shooting of the Principal Bird deity is one of the main episodes of the Hero Twins myth. The main characters, the twins H'unah'pu and X'balanque, defeated a bird demon and won many battles with tricks.

GODS

KINICH A'HAU I'TZAMNÁ

The principal God-creator was Kinich Ahau I'tzamná, "the first priest", that resides in the sky. The "god that could fly" was one of the gods of medicine, patron of the arts and inventor of agriculture and writing. I'tzamná, the creator of mankind, the god of Heaven, was the god of day and night and the main God of the Maya Pantheon. He was the patron of A'haw, the principal day of the 20 Mayan days Calendar. He named each one of the regions in the Yucatán Peninsula. Usually represented as a toothless old man, I'tzamná was the son of Hunab'Ku and the father of B'acab, a god that lives inside the Earth. He had thirteen sons with the Goddess I'xchel. I'tzamná corresponding Gods are: Tonacatecuhtli and Quetzalcóatl of the Mexicas, also known as Kukulcán, the feathered serpent, in the Maya Ancient Culture.

IXCHEL - The light skin one, the medicine goddess, was also the goddess of the moon and midwifes. She was the wife of I'tzamná' and was associated with water. The protector of pregnant women was visited by priests, kings and shamans from far away places. Common people went to see visit her temple in Cozumel, at least one time in their lifetimes.

The Sun God and Moon Goddess were the patrons of the Venus cycle; gods of the weather and the crops.

I'XTAB, the goddess of suicides, or the "cord", was the protector of people that committed suicide. Hanging from a Ceiba tree, the sacred tree of the Maya, she took them to the land of pleasures.

CHAAC, the god of rain, thunder and lightning was the most venerated god in the dry regions and was represented as a big stone mask with huge nose. You can see it in many of the temples.

Bolon Dzacab, the lightning God and the Bacabs, the deities of the underground, terrestrial water, and thunder were all related.

AH PUCH, the god of death, the "Lord One," also known as H'un A'hau and Y'um Cimi, had his place in the deepest part of the underworld where all dead arrived. Related to the owl, it appears as a skull with small rattles around his neck, wrists and legs. He was a good god that could be deceived by tricks.

YUM KA'AX, the god of corn, was young. He represented prosperity and abundance. He wore a cob of corn as a head-dress.

EK CHU'AH, the god of merchants was the patron of cacao. He was in charge of protecting the crops.

PRIESTS or AJ'KIJ

Apart from writing, the fundamental knowledge of the Aj'kij was arithmetic's and calendars. They observed the sky and learned the cycles of the moon, the sun and Venus. They controlled the population by fear; they could predict eclipses and droughts, they knew when to plant and harvest. They had to know astronomy in order to know about cycles.

SACRED CEIBA TREE OR TREE OF LIFE

The Sacred Ceiba Tree or "Tree of Life," as it is known, represents the connection between the Celestial gods or Cosmos (branches), and the X'ibalba or "underworld" (roots), the trunk represents the human life. For the Maya, there was a direct relationship between the Cosmos and the humans. Everyone, depending on the time and date when they were born, were told by the priest, what was their place in this world. To accomplish this, the priests used the Master Calendar.

The "Tzolk'in" or Master Calendar is an energy tracking device that describes the energies of Creation. The calendar has cycles within cycles, in it, each day is unique, each person is unique, and each era is unique. When a child was born, the priest used (and some still do), the calendar to decide the N'awal or spirit that the child would have.

N'awal is a sacred energy, a transparent aura in form of an egg that surrounds all living things. Rocks are considered living things too. Depending on the kind of energy and its force, the person will be weak or strong, healthy or sick, alive or dying. A sick person has a weak N'awal. Once the n'awal was decided, the priest will advise the family of the "job" that had to be accomplished by that child; their element; Fire (spirit), Earth (body), Air (mind), Water (emotion) and their positive and negative aspects. Also, the priest would advise what aptitudes had to be developed to accomplish what was expected from the child. Character, things to overcome, etc., was foretold. He/she had no choice. Everything was decided there. The priests ruled in every aspect of their lives.

N'AWALES AND THEIR MEANING

Batz: Principle of Creation, the thread of life and time; represented by a monkey.

Ee: Principle of free will. It is the sacred way or steps that interlace the human world or Mother Earth with the Underworld and the world in the Cosmos or Supramundo.

Aj: Principle of the Divine Power. Is the sacred altar or TABAL; the power and authority of the Aj'kij' or Priest.

Ix: Feminine Principle represented as a jaguar; gave magic and intuition.

T'zikin: Principle of channeling represented as an eagle. Gave superior vision, connection between Sun and Mother Earth.

Ajmac: Transmutation Principle; warrior, experience.

Noj: Principle of Knowledge; represented by a cave. Occult powers of the mind. Knowledge of Mother Earth and the eternal truths of the Universe.

Tijax: Principle of self-image. Represented by a smoking mirror or an obsidian knife that opens the veils and the doors to other realities.

Kawok: Principle of abundance; harmony between community and generations of energy.

Ajpu: Principle of the Solar Energy or Light; security, magnetism, perfection.

Imox: Origin of water; represented by a crocodile. Capacity to break established patterns and rigid structures.

Iq: Origin of wind. Breath of life, communication, fluidity, crystal mind.

Akabal; Change; balance, morning and night.

Kat: Energy that surrounds all living things.

Kan: Principle of intensity and creation represented by a snake. Sexual energy and spiral.

Keme: Death, door that let us interact the worlds of living and death.

Kej: Principle of manifestation. Deer. Fifth element and the four corners of the universe.

Q´nil: Principle of fertility. Seed and semen.

Toj: Principle of purifying fire. The T'ojil or sacred offering

Tzí: Law and justice. The "Karma" of life.

THE TRIAD OR THREE PLANES OF EXISTANCE

U'kux Kaj or Cosmic force with 13 levels,

U'kux U'lew' or earth that has 4 elemental forces

U'kux Xibalba or underworld with 9 levels

THE TEMPLES WERE ALSO DIVIDED:

Tolán Kaj' or Cosmic Temples

Tolánes or Mayan pyramids

Tolán Ku or underworld Temple

The sacred Cenotes and the caves were the sacred doors to the underworld. They were the only way to enter these Temples.

THE MAYA HAD DIFFERENT GUARDIANS:

Kamawiles: Invisible beings that are the masters of the Mayan altars.

Kaculjas: Elemental beings that interact in all ceremonies. They are divided as follow:

Nina Kaculjas: Fire energy or salamanders.

Raxa Kaculjas: Aluxes or earth energies that protect the farmlands and the archaeological sites.

Cips Kaculjas: Waves or energy of the water

Hura’Kan Kaculjas: Energy of air or Sylphs; invisible beings of the air.

PRIESTS AND SHAMANS:

Aj´kijs: Guardians and Priests of the sacred fire. They were the people that inherited the old Calendar Choal’Kij o Tzolkin. Still guarding the sacred fire in the south of México and in Guatemala.

H'un Creator and the one that gives life to all worlds.

H'un'ab Ku Great sun

I'tzamna God of gods, the creator of the universe that represents the two creative forces. He was the god that fly.

K'inich A'hau The light of our mother earth, our sun.

N'ajt or Great Spiral that leads the way to all the planets.

K'ukul K'an or Quetzalcóatl, represents the vital creative force or energy. It is represented as the feathered snake that ascends to the heavens. It is a god that flies. After teaching the Maya how to run civilization, medicine and agriculture, he spent some time on Earth, and then returned to the ocean. He told the Maya that he would return. When the European arrived, the locals saw them as the second coming of their god. K'ukul K'an was 6 feet tall when standing. With white long hair, white skin and blue eyes, many people think he came from the lost city of Atlantis. (I visited a very interesting and remote part of México, in a town where the "flying sandals of Kukulcán were buried).

WRITING

Hieroglyphs in rows or columns and read from left to right and from bottom to the top. The Priests wrote Codices or CODEX, the acred books made from bark in a form of accordion. They registered all their knowledge and history, but, when the Spanish came, they were burned by the Spanish Priests. We only know of three that survived; the Dresden Codex, the Madrid Codex and the Paris Codex.

MATHEMATICS

The Olmec civilization were the ones that created the mathematics, the Maya were the ones that perfected it. They represented the cero as a seashell, centuries before the Hindus had it.

Dot: represents number one. .

Bar: represents number five. _

Shell represents the cero.

ARCHITECTURE

MAYA ARCH, or false arch
MAYA-TOLTEC STYLE: Temples dedicated to the serpent god Kukulcán. Examples found in Chichén Itzá and Tulúm.
CHENES STYLE: Temples with columns heavily decorated with masks of the rain god Chaac.
RIO BEC STYLE: Ornamental parallel towers. Examples found in Hormiguero and Rio Bec.
PETEN STYLE: High pyramids; Tikal.
PUUC STYLE: Palaces, like Uxmal, Sayil, Labná. "puuc" is derived from the Maya term for "hill".
NORTHWESTERN STYLE: Buildings decorated with human figures like Palenque.

USUMACINTA REGIION STYLE: Decorated temples with sculptured stone lintels set above the doorways. Like Yaxchilán

Uxmal

MUSIC

Wind instruments; trumpets, sea shells, whistles, bells and rattles.

Turtle shells, Zacatlán; a drum made of a trunk tree. Tunkul: bass drum

LEGENDS:

"ALUXES" are the Maya dwarfs that live in the caves and archaeological sites and can come with you to your home. They move the hamacs and wake people. They can cause sickness. They throw stones at you when you walk through their sites. People ask permission to walk through the sacred Maya sites, still today. Farmers leave food for them and build little hutches so that they can take care of their crop. If someone steels from the farmer that owns an Aluxe he, the one that steels, will receive a big punishment by the Aluxe. They sleep with their eyes opened. Some people discribe them as transparent, made of air. Some, say that they are like little children with black long hair and some

kind of third eye in their forehead. Some others say that they are the ancient Maya clay figures that are in the archaeological sites and that sometimes, they come alive to play tricks. Copal is used to bring the Aluxes to your life. Others, say that the Aluxes were destroyed by a lightning storm while they were dancing.
BALAMES Old Dwarfs, with long white beards and ugly gestures, weare sandals and tunics. They are in charge of taking care of the cardinal points of the Maya cities. Thup, or "little finger" is the smallest of all the balál. Thup will help any Balam that needs it when fighting animals and winds. Usually they smoke and throw their cigarettes in the night (we see them as flying stars). They are little men but not as small as the Aluxes or dwarfs. They are good and bad, take care of the towns and crops, but if people don't respect them and feed them, they eat their children. Many accidents are prevented by them. They whistle. Sometimes they are invisible.

BO'OB Head of a lion and body of a big deer; they eat human flesh. They live in the jungle near Guatemala and come out at night. People that live near Boob territory. make their homes with tree trunks to protect themselves. Chicleros from Campeche swear they saw the Boob and describe him like an African lion, but black with long tail. "The smell is so bad that you can know he is near." In Hopelchén a man with his horse came to ask for help after confronting a Boob. He was very sick until he got to Hecelchakán where he died.
COLA NEGRA or E'KUNEIL lives in the deepest parts of the mountains. His ash color and long body has a tail that splits. Flies to the interior of the houses if he smells a baby being fed. Legend says you die if his tail touches you.
MAYA PREDICTIONS
MAYA SYMBOLS

Maya sites not to be missed in the Yucatán:

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If you are going to visit any archeological site of the Maya, you should understand their Cosmological view. Every aspect of their life and their cities were studied, planned and designed by the Priests according to their beliefs.

The pyramids represent sacred mountains or planets.
The Sacred CEIBA Tree, thought to stand at the center of the earth, connecting the terrestrial world and the spiritual world above.
The Maya believed that the underworld had 9 layers, ruled by the 9 Lords of the Night.
The tree represents the upper, middle and underworlds. The branches represent the 13 layers of the upper world. All of them, manifestations of the creator god HUNAB KUN or ITZAMNA'.
The self-pollinate Ceiba tree, can grow up to 198 ft. tall, the seeds are rich in oil and protein and the wood was used to make canoes.
The long thick vines hanging down from its spreading limbs provided a connection to the heavens for the souls that ascended them. Cave of BALANKANCHE with indredible pictures and, CEIBA.org Ceiba Info.
Perfect example of their planning is in Teotihuacán, near México City, with the pyramids of the SUN and MOON. The construction of their Temples and Pyramids were precise. They reflect their interpretation of the orbits of the planets in the center and the less important further out.
The Temples and pyramids were remodeled and rebuilt every fifty-two years in synchrony with the Maya Long Count Calendar, and their belief in resurrection and birth; every time better than the last one.
Their Ball Court is a representation of resurrection and birth also. Perfectly alligned and measured to represent a cycle and the rebirth of the new cycle. Their message of transformation and renewal.

UXMAL "Built Three Times" AD 500

- "The Adivino" (The Magician or Pyramid of the Dwarf). Elliptical 131 ft. Pyramid. Maya legend says that the first people on earth were ALUXES or dwarfs "enanos o duendes". "A dwarf constructed it in one night. When the light came out, he became stone."

Read more about the wonderful legend of the Aluxes; MAYA PREDICTIONS AND BELIEFS

CHICHĖN-ITZÁ - "At the mouth of the well of the Itza," "enchanted waters."

- One of the "New Seven Wonders of the World." - Temple of Kukulkán (feathered serpent deity also known as "Quetzalcóatl" by his Nahua followers in the southwestern United States and northwestern México.) The temple has 9 levels depicting the Maya cosmological view; 9 levels in the Maya Underwold.

• 91 steps on three of the sides, 92 on the staircase, giving us a total of 365 steps, or days of the year. The staircase, (center of the pyramid), has 13 levels; the number of levels in the "upper worlds". - El Caracol, "Observatory." Maya astronomers knew from observations that Venus appeared on the western and disappeared on the eastern horizons at different times in the year, and that it took 584 days to complete one cycle; 5 of these Venus cycles equaled 8 solar years; Venus would appear at the North and South at eight year intervals.

Eclipses, equinoxes, solstices, etc., were observed and studied by the priests who controlled not only the calendar, but, every aspect of their life.

TIP:

- While in CHICHĖN, Read the wonderful historical love story of Alma Reed "Peregrina," and visit the Hacienda (now a Hotel) where part of this historical love story takes place.

TULÚM "TULU'UM" (Zama or city of Dawn)

- Impressive walled coastal city and major port for Cobá. - Temple of the Frescoes with figures of the Maya “diving god” or Venus in the façade of the temple and mural. - El Castillo 25 ft. tall. Overlooking the turquois waters, this magnificent city is one of the most visited, so, get their early or in the afternoon. You can swim after your visit. Near Tulúm is the famous "Hidden Worlds" Cenote and the Biosphere Reserve. More extensive information and pictures: Driving in Yucatan - Diving and Fishing

EK' BALAM "Black Jaguar"

- Incredible wonderful site with perfectly preserved sculptures.

- Winged Mayan warriors; The Acropolis 16 ft. tall, jaguar's mouth with beautiful winged Mayan warriors sculptures. Some of the best preserve Stucco work.
TIP: Visit the old town of Ek' Balam, where wonderful crafts and hammocs are made, Cenote Dzitnup, near Ek'Balam, and, the Lagartos Biosphere.

KOHUNLICH 100-900 AD

- 6 giant stucco masks. The city was engineered and planned to channel drainage into a system of cisterns and a reservoir to collect rainwater. Has raised platforms, pyramids, citadels, courtyards, and plazas, surrounded by jungle, monkeys, butterflies, birds and vegetation.

EDZNÁ 250 BC

- Main temple at the plaza, built on a platform of 131 ft. high. - System of canals, aqueducts, well planned city. - Templo de los Cinco Pisos, multy story building, with its roof-comb and hieroglyphic writing on the steps. - Templo de los Mascarones, representing the Sun rising on the East and setting on the West. Marshy grounds.

DZINBANCHE
"Wood lintel with glyph" AD 618

- Giant ceiba trees; sacred tree of the Maya. - Temple 6; large pyramidal platform with 2 vaulted galleries, tunnels and cresting on the top.

COBÁ
"Ruffled Waters" 500-900

- Located around two lagoons. Impressive Sacbe (plural sacbeob); series of elevated stone and plaster roads from the central site to various sites; the longest runs over 62 mi. Large number of stele; inscribed, carved in reliefs. Nohoch'Mul structures; 140 ft. the tallest in the Yucatán.

CHACCHOBEN

"the place of red corn" 200 BC

- 110 mi. south of Tulúm. Near the Bakalar Lake, it is mentioned in the Chilam Balam of Chumayel, one of the Maya Sacred books. British pirates attacked the Yucatán. The Spaniards built a Fort for protection and later on, on the "Caste Wars," the locals used it to protect themselves from the Spaniards. Now it is a Museum. Near, is the Cenote Azul.

X'EL-HÁ
"Spring water"

- One of several ports of the Maya city of Cobá. Still being excavated.

SAN GERVASIO (Cozumel)

- Cozumal - San Gervasio - Sacred to the Maya Moon Goddess Ix' Chel. Place of pilgrimage, especially by women desiring fertility.

ACANCEH 200 A.D.

- Near the City of Mérida, the pyramids are surrounded by homes. There is a large Church. Usually the Spaniards built their Churches on top of the important spiritual sites of the Indians. By doing this, they not only used the stones used in the pyramids and tem to built their churches, but, the locals were used to gather and pray in those sites. On top of the pyramid there are some masks that are defaced.

MAYA SITES NOT TO BE MISSED IN CHIAPAS:

PALENQUE

- Palenque Guide - Don't miss this wonderful, magical place!

- 500 buildings have been excavated, many more have been mapped.

- Surrounded by monkeys and jungle.

- Palenque glyphs record 180 years of history.
- Templo XIII and Templo de las Calaveras (Temple of Skulls) -ancient burial temples-former only discovered in 1993. El Palacio; distinctive Tower.
- Templo de las Inscripciones; Funerary monument of K'inich Janaab' Pakal (675) remarkable for its large carved sarcophagus. Houses the second longest glyphic text known from the Maya world.

- The Aqueduct; stone blocks with 9 feet-high vault to make the River flow underneath the floor of the main plaza.

- City's patron deities 'the Palenque Triad.'

Palenque, Oriental-type Dragon

- Huge variety of wildlife, toucan and howling monkeys.
- Wonderful Museum.

BONAMPAK
"Painted walls"

- Highly detailed frescoes -Don't miss this magical place.
- Large city from the Classic period famous for its brilliant murals depicting 8th C Maya court life, ritual and battle.
- Bonampak Murals

TIP: Read the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, learn about their beliefs and amazing stories of the Aluxes or Dwarfs before you go. Maya Predictions

YAXCHILáN

"green stone."

- Only reached by boat (Rio Usumacinta north of the ruins of Bonampak.)
- Not been restored due to the location.
- Some of the finest carvings in the Maya World.
- Surrounded by jungle, this magnificent city is still being discovered.
- Pay attention to the little people floating on top of the hands of the warriors

IZAPA

- Situated on the Suchiate River, near the Tacaná volcano.
- Settled by the Olmec and Maya.
- The Maya Long Count Calendar that gives us the date of 2012 originated in Izapa, Chiapas.
- To understand Izapa, and the great history behind it, read about Baron Humboldt in Maya Predictions

Wall with Maya Seignior Glyphs Discovered at Archaeological Zone

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02/14/2010 TONINÁ, CHIAPAS, MEXICO.- A wall with a rich glyphic text that includes the complete name of the ruler that founded one of the most important Maya military seigniories was discovered in Tonina Archaeological Zone, in Chiapas. Epigraphists point out that the finding will bring in new information regarding Maya grammar, since it shows linguistic features yet to be deciphered. The discovery adds up to the sarcophagus recently uncovered by specialists of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
The wall dated in 708 AD was detected at El Palacio; a stucco portrait of K’inich B’aaknal Chaahk, the most powerful seignior of the ancient Maya city, was found as well.
Dr. Juan Yadeun Angulo, coordinator of Tonina Conservation and Research Project, declared that K’inich B’aaknal Chaahk forged “one of the greatest military seigniories of Maya history before Mexica people arrived to the region”.