Campaign Chunk Volume 11.05 – Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is an archaeological site is located in Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán State, Mexico. The names transltaes to “at the mouth of the well of Itza.” The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza which known as “El Castillo” or The Castle, is one of the seven wonders of the world that was choosen in 07.07.2007. Many people belive the name Chichen Itza refers to El Casillo when in fact it is the name of the city that the Castle resides in.
Between 900 and 1050 AD, Chichen Itza had become a powerful capital. It also controlled northern and central Yucatan at the time.It was one of the largest Maya cities and also had the most diverse population in any Maya population. It covered five square kilometers.Many of the Maya people that lived in Chichen Itza were very skilled craftsmen, including sculptors, weavers, jewelers and potters.
Chichen Itza was more than a religious and ceremonial site. It was also a sophisticated urban center and hub of regional trade. But after centuries of prosperity and absorbing influxes of other cultures like the Toltecs, the city met a mysterious end.
The city’s only permanent water source was a series of sinkhole wells. Spanish records report that young female victims were thrown into the largest of these, live, as sacrifices to the Maya rain god thought to live in its depths.
The Castle has 365 steps—one for each day of the year. Each of the temple’s four sides has 91 steps, and the top platform makes the 365th. It has a diameter of around 1km. One thing that Chichen Itza is famous for is that every year on the autumn and spring equinox the sun hits the side of the Castle making a show of light and shadow which looks like a snake along the steps of the building. Approximately 1.2 million people visit the ruins of Chichen Itza every year, making this location one of , if the the number 1, tourist spot in Mexico.
Hooks & Rumors
- Exploration of one of the sink holes has discovered a large number of human bones. However these all appear to be very old, older than Chichen Itza. Questions are being raised as to who these belong to.
- Archaeologists exploring the ruins have found what the belive to be a an inverse version of The Castle, buried at the northen side of the city site and alost 50 meters underground. Many are saying this is in fact a hoax started by those in needs of funds.
- A film company is to start filming a series of action-adventure movies in the location. Normaly this would not be more than a mild bit of news if it wasnt for the fact that this compant has a reputation of leaving the locations they film in in worse conditions than before they started. That combined with the fact that they are seeking to ban touritst from visiting, which would hurt the local economy.
- During the spring equinox, a visitor to the location claimed to have a series of vivid visions of an upcoming disaster. This would have been ignored ad laughed at if not for the fact that one of the so-called visions occurred 34 hours later.
Volume 10 of the compiled and updated Campaign Chunks is available at DrivethruRPG.com
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/184856/Campaign-Chunk–Volume-10–Mysteries
