just a couple snapshots from Monday:
just some topo work...
Nice. Some idiot sprayed paint all over it?
Great testimony to slave labor.
One of the most interesting sites in the world of archeo-astronomy dealing with celestial observation, building design and layout.
On the spring equinox, the serpent's shadow descends the steps and crosses the plaza and descends into the cenote (underworld) that is sacred.
imaudigger, post: 341428, member: 7286 wrote: Nice. Some idiot sprayed paint all over it?
not one drop of paint
the orange you see are power cords.
Robert Hill, post: 341440, member: 378 wrote: One of the most interesting sites in the world of archeo-astronomy dealing with celestial observation, building design and layout.
On the spring equinox, the serpent's shadow descends the steps and crosses the plaza and descends into the cenote (underworld) that is sacred.
Dzibilchalt̼n is a bit less well known but perhaps more significant.
Dzibilchalt̼n
in english
Google Translate
I was lucky to see the Chacchoben mayan ruins last year while on a cruise. The whole Mayan culture is fascinating as well as that of the Aztec's.
How many tourists bothered you while surveying?
Chacchoben mayan ruins: Chacchoben Mayan Ruins in M̩xico by Kenneth Christian
B-)
this is a vacation trip for us, we are visiting my wife's daughter and her family in Merida. we will not be going down to Costa Maya on this trip, maybe next year.
The entire Yucatan peninsula is rich in ancient history. There are many archaeological sites and museums are on our list, as well as the numerous cenotes. We visited Gran Museo del Mundo Maya in Merida yesterday, a truly awesome place. Dzibilchalt̼n is on the list for today, I don't remember If I have seen it before or not.
It seems that the coastal sites are much more degraded from the weather, all the structures are limestone.
Was there on the spring equinox in 2013. About 30 minutes before the "event" a large cloud obscured the sun. Those who were patient were rewarded with the cloud passing out of the way about 2 minutes before the shadow started. The "serpent" was quite impressive - it was amazing how the shadow of the "body" lined up perfectly with the carved stone serpent head. Truly an impressive sight!
Jim in AZ, post: 341490, member: 249 wrote: Was there on the spring equinox in 2013. About 30 minutes before the "event" a large cloud obscured the sun. Those who were patient were rewarded with the cloud passing out of the way about 2 minutes before the shadow started. The "serpent" was quite impressive - it was amazing how the shadow of the "body" lined up perfectly with the carved stone serpent head. Truly an impressive sight!
I will have to schedule my next trip to see that, it must have been awesome.
Jim in AZ, post: 341490, member: 249 wrote: Was there on the spring equinox in 2013. About 30 minutes before the "event" a large cloud obscured the sun. Those who were patient were rewarded with the cloud passing out of the way about 2 minutes before the shadow started. The "serpent" was quite impressive - it was amazing how the shadow of the "body" lined up perfectly with the carved stone serpent head. Truly an impressive sight!
I use to subscribe to a journal from the Univ. if Maryland titled :Archeoastronomy: a Journal of Astronomy in Culture.
If you can get a copy of Vol IV #1 1998, there is an article describing the Temple of Serpents in reference to the celestial design.
These are from a few years ago when I laid out the pyramids at Chit-zen Itza along with my trusty rodman Walter. He wasn't very fast but he knew the best local bars to hit after work.
Rubrew, post: 341554, member: 954 wrote: These are from a few years ago when I laid out the pyramids at Chit-zen Itza along with my trusty rodman Walter. He wasn't very fast but he knew the best local bars to hit after work.
awesome! thanks for the photos.
the last time I was at chichen itza was maybe 20 years ago, there were no roped off areas then. I did climb to the top of the principal pyramid, but not onto the roof like that! I do rember the view.
down at ground level there in zero view, the land is flat an covered with trees and brush.
Today we made it over to Dzibilchalt̼n. when I got there I remembered being there about 30 years ago; the grand central East-West road and the small but well known pyramid at the East end that the sun appears in at the equinox... we made arrangements to return in the spring to see that event.
The museum is great, most of the artifacts are labeled in English as well as Spanish. This site dates back to well before chichen itza, about 600 BC.
wife Irma and her cousin Rosa
Very few Americans are here, most foreign tourists are from South America or Europe. Had a long and very informative talk with a very elderly college professor/historian from Cuba, a highlight of my day.
we finished the day bathing our feet in the cenote, known as "the entrance to the other world".
This was about 20 years ago. It was just dumb luck that I stumbled on to a survey crew at the top of the pyramid. I don't speak spanish so I don't know what their task was. I think I did convey to them that I was a surveyor and they allowed me to take these photos. My wife went inside of the pyramid to see the Panther statue. I was too claustrophobic to make that journey.
Rubrew, post: 341649, member: 954 wrote: This was about 20 years ago. It was just dumb luck that I stumbled on to a survey crew at the top of the pyramid. I don't speak spanish so I don't know what their task was. I think I did convey to them that I was a surveyor and they allowed me to take these photos. My wife went inside of the pyramid to see the Panther statue. I was too claustrophobic to make that journey.
🙂 you should make it back down and have another look. many new areas have been uncovered, and some areas like the sacred cenote are now open to the public.
I could see the sacred cenote back then. By open to the public do you mean you are free to toss people in?
Rubrew, post: 341667, member: 954 wrote: I could see the sacred cenote back then. By open to the public do you mean you are free to toss people in?
well, maybe it is my fading memory. I have no memory of it... when I get home I will go thru the old photos.
I had zero recollection of Dzibilchalt̼n until I walked out on the grand East-West road... nor did I remember that cenote either until I was a couple hundred meters away... too many vacations, to many places. 🙁
throwing people in the sacred cenote? they are adamant on litter, but if it is a religious motivation maybe no issues... 🙂
