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Chichén Itzá: Ballcourt and Temple of the Jaguars
The Early
Postclassic Ballcourt at Chichén Itzá, built about AD 1000,
is the largest known in ancient Mesoamerica. Located in the northern,
Postclassic zone of the
site, the court measures 146 m long by 37 m wide, with both goal rings still
intact on its 8 meter-high stone walls. A bench with relief sculpture of
a snake runs along the entire length of each wall. At the ends are two small
temples, the larger at the north end with sculptures including
Chac masks and pictures
of sacrificial rites. Beside the southeast wall (shown in Fig.1) is the Temple
of the Jaguars with rooms on two floors, with the upper containing painted
frescos of invading Toltecs.
.
[Fig.1: The Ballcourt and Temple of the Jaguars at Chichén
Itzá (photo: Athena Review).]
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