Home    Planning & Info   Regions    RVing    Archeology    Articles    Road Logs    Insurance    Photos    Mexico News    Ontheroadin

Chichén Itzá - The Platform of Eagles and Jaguars

by Dorothy and Bill Bell

The Platform of the Eagles and Jaguars

Be still my beating heart

Located on the great Plaza, the Platform of the Eagles sits between the Temple of the Skulls and the Temple of Venus. Built in a combination Maya and Toltec styles between 900 and 1200 AD, and like the Castillo and Venus Platform, has a staircase on each of the four sides leading to the top of the platform. The balustrades (stair rail) are topped with an ascending plumed serpent – the serpent God Kukulcán. On the walls of the structure are prostrate human figures. Below them are Eagles and Jaguars gruesomely grasping human hearts.

It is believed that the animals represented two Toltec warrior orders responsible for capturing sacrificial victims. Eagle Knights dressed in battle with feathered costume, were the first into battle and attacked the enemy using bows and arrows. The Jaguar Knights fought ruthlessly hand to hand with clubs fitted with obsidian knives. They wore jaguar skins and jaguar head helmets and were charged with the responsibility of bringing the enemy back to the city for sacrifice to the Gods.

The platform was likely used for religious and ceremonial purposes with a special emphasis about military superiority.

 
View Ancient Sites in Mexico in a larger map

Back to Mexico's Archeological Sites

*

What You Should Consider for Your Visit

Road Logs

Books & Maps

Vehicle Insurance

Other Insurance

Learn Spanish Online  

Photos

Articles