Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is the largest of the Pre-Columbian archaeological sites in Yucatán, Mexico. The city was built by the Maya civilization.

The name

The name is often represented as Chichén Itzá in Spanish and other languages to show that both parts of the name are stressed on their final syllables. In the Yucatec Maya language (still in use in the area, and written with the Roman alphabet since the 16th century) this stress follows the rules of the language so it is written without diacritics. The Maya name "Chichen Itza" means "At the mouth of the wells of the Itza people". Although this was the usual name for the site in Pre-Columbian times, it is also referred to in the ancient chronicles as Uucyabnal, meaning "Seven Great Rulers".

Related Topics:
Spanish - Maya language - Diacritic - Pre-Columbian

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