Mayan World
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Among
the options when visiting and getting to know the prehispanic cultures is the
Mayan World. This culture achieved a great development in astronomy and
mathematics -the Mayas used the zero long before it was known in Europe-
flourished in south eastern M?xico when today the states of Campeche, Chiapas,
Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucat?n are located.
The Mayan World has more than 50 well known archaeological centres, which for
more than 150 years have attracted specialists. The Mayan culture is
characterised by its political organisation in cities and states that
flourished between 600 and 900 AD in the southern region, and from 900 to 1200
AD in the Yucat?n Pen?nsula.
Among these are Chich?n Itz? and Uxmal in Yucat?n, Tul?m in Quintana Roo, as
well as Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchil?n in Chiapas. The Museo de la Venta, in
the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco, contains the most important collection of
works from the Olmec culture, which is considered to be the mother culture of
the Mesoamerican civilization, including the Mayan.
A view of the Mayan World can be combined with tours of cities which flourished
during the colonial era and which are today active urban centres, such as
M?rida, Campeche and San Crist?bal de las Casas. Additionally a trip can be
used to visit the recreative centres at the Beaches of the Mexican Caribbean.
Undoubtedly, during the last few years, Canc?n in Quintana Roo has become the
most internationally recognized tourist centre of the region.
M?xico's Yucat?n Pen?nsula is phenomenally rich in major archaeological sites.
We are only giving you details about a few of them here. Others we are
encouraging the traveller to consider visiting are: Sayil, Kab?h, Labn?
Chich?n Itz? in the State of Yucat?n 120.67 kilometres east of the city of
M?rida and 201.12 kilometres west of the city of Canc?n is one of the largest
archaeological sites in M?xico, and it's rich with legends and treasures.
If the tourist is lucky enough to visit during the fall equinox or spring
equinox, and the weather is co-operative, the sun and shadow will create a
"serpent" body along the edge of the pyramid that lines up with the
carved stone serpent head at the bottom.
Palenque is another important archaeological site located in the State of
Chiapas, that is a mystical, ethereal place; precious little box, it sits in
the foothills of the Sierras, surrounded by primordial jungle vegetation. With
the whole atmosphere visitors feel like just stumbled onto the existence of a
deep, mysterious secret. One of the site's structures, The Temple of the
Inscriptions, holds the Royal Tomb of Pacal, a great Mayan priest-emperor who
is supposed to have magical powers. Some contemporary stories pose intriguing
questions -was he a space traveler from another planet? When the visitor see
his portrait on the lid of his magnificent 5-ton sarcophagus he may begin to
wonder himself.
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