Chichén Itzá - The Sacred Cenote

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by Dorothy and Bill Bell

Sacred Cenote

Chichén Itzá - The Sacred Cenote by Dorothy and Bill Bell

The Yucatan Peninsula is a limestone plain and water permeates to the underground forming rivers, streams and pools known as cenotes. Cenotes can be completely covered, have a sinkhole or be completely exposed as is the case with the Sacred Cenote. It resembles a small lake or pond; 60 meters (197 feet) in diameter with steep cliffs to the sides that drop 27 meters (89 feet) to the green waters below.

Water to the Yucatan Mayans was very sacred and Chac the Rain God who was believed to live at the bottom of this cenote, was feared and worshipped because he produced drought and the life-force of water. As an entry to the underworld they believed they could speak to their ancestors and the underworld Gods by offering sacrifices at the cenote. They would ask for good rains and harvests, health and fortune. Priests offered rituals at the temples using the sacred water.

The large Sacred Cenote was considered very important to the wellbeing of the Mayan people and as part of their religious culture offered sacrifices to the Rain God as a form of Worship. It should be remembered that the name Chichén Itza translates to “At the mouth of the well of the Itza” referring to this cenote.

The Sacred Cenote was a place of pilgrimage for the ancient Maya as most of the objects that were offered were not native to the Yucatan and pilgrims must have travelled great distances to offer their precious objects to Chac. When the cenote was dredged they found numerous precious objects including gold, jade, shell, wood, obsidian and wooden objects which were preserved in the water. There were also skeletons of men and children with wounds consistent with sacrifice. Young women were the most common sacrifice presumably because they had power in their beauty.

The Sacred Cenote was used exclusively for religious purposes and potable water was take from other cenotes located throughout the city.

Note: This is a perfect place to grab a bottle of water or use the restrooms at the kiosk close by.