Yucatan - December 2007
Chichen Itza
Cenote Xtoloc Temple

After visiting the Cenote Xtoloc, we saw a temple right next to it.  The temple is (quite originally) called the Cenote Xtoloc Temple (The photo above is a panorama stitched from several images; the software warped the temple a lot).  I was too excited to see the Pyramid of Kukulcan and the Temple of the Warriors to pay much attention to this temple, so I do not recall feeling anything here.


According to the INAH plaque beside it, the temple dates from 900 to 1200AD.  The temple contains an altar in the interior of the 3rd chamber, originally decorated with bas-reliefs of plants, birds, and mythological scenes.  Archaeologists found a container of offerings with human remains in front of the altar and beneath the floor.  Curiously, the temple faces west, towards Saq Be 15 and the Pyramid of the High Priest.


The temple had some interesting carvings representing warriors and priests on the stelae, as you can see on the right.


This temple has the Toltec architectural style that you see in the Principal Plaza.

The front of the Cenote Xtoloc Temple with Luna and Enrique at Chichen Itza
Stela to the left of Luna in the above photo