A stone statue of a serpent warrior ’s capitulum has been unearthed among the ruins of the iconic Maya site ofChichén Itzáin southern Mexico . Wearing a “ snake helmet ” and a feathered headdress , the ancient carving is likely to date from the Maya Late Classic catamenia , which lasted from around 600 to 900 atomic number 58 .
Archaeologists come across the remarkable relic while excavating a structure know as Maudslay ’s Temple 6 , named after the British IE Alfred Maudslay who was among the first Europeans to visit and document Chichén Itzá . The temple work part of theCasa Colorada(Colored House ) complex - otherwise sleep with as Chichanchob - which is placeable for its red - painted walls .
One of the most far-famed ancient cities in Mesoamerica , Chichén Itzá was a major force in the Maya world during the Late Classic and other Terminal Classic menstruum , lodging up to 35,000 inhabitants in its prime . Among the many iconic landmark found at the site is the pyramid - shapedTemple of Kukulcán- or El Castillo - named after the Mayan snake god .
Adorned with carvings of feather serpents , the temple is a stunning tribute to a frightening deity who was heavily associated with state of war and human sacrifice . The discovery of a snake - headed soldier statue nearby therefore suggests that the token may have been linked to Kukulcán , although this has yet to be confirm by archaeologists .
Announcing the find in astatement , Mexico ’s National Institute of Anthropology and History ( INAH ) revealed that “ the bit valuate 33 centimeters [ 13 inches ] in acme , 28 centimeters [ 11 inch ] wideand 22 centimeters [ 8.7 in ] in depth , and in spitefulness of being fracture , is notable for its good state of preservation . ”
“ As a final result , it ’s potential to deduce that the sculpture ’s parameters oppose those used during the earlier period of the Maya metropolis . ”
lately , researchers in the nearby res publica of Campeche discovered acircular structure dedicated to Kukulcánin the hobo camp . earlier take to be a sight serpent that work as a messenger between the Maya elites and the gods , the deity later accept on a more potent role as a cult in his honor sprung up in the Yucatan Peninsula .
However , this faith did n’t really take hold until around the sentence the Maya imperium began to crumble , so it ’s unlikely that the serpent warrior statue found at Chichén Itzá had anything to do with the Kukulcán cult .
