Yucatan - December 2007
Chichen Itza
High Priest Complex
Pyramid of the High Priest

I felt a strong attraction to the Pyramid of the High Priest (also called the Ossuary).  This pyramid has the typical Toltec pyramidal style, with the snake heads at the bottom of the steps just like the Pyramid of Kukulcan.  This pyramid also has an interesting statue/stela next to it which used to sit on top.


According to the INAH Plaque accompanying this temple, the Mayans built this temple over a deep cavern.  The temple originally served as a place of worship.  Stucco and polychrome mythological reliefs cover the temple and upper platforms superimposed on the base.

N
YUCATAN-CHICHENITZA-HIGHPRIESTCOMPLEX-PyramidHighPriest-2007_files/Pyramid-of-the-High-Priest-East-01-1600S_1.jpg
YUCATAN-CHICHENITZA-HIGHPRIESTCOMPLEX-PyramidHighPriest-2007_files/Pyramid-of-the-High-Priest-north-06-1024S.jpg
YUCATAN-CHICHENITZA-HIGHPRIESTCOMPLEX-PyramidHighPriest-2007_files/Pyramid-of-the-High-Priest-west-07-1024S.jpg
YUCATAN-CHICHENITZA-HIGHPRIESTCOMPLEX-PyramidHighPriest-2007_files/Pyramid-of-the-High-Priest-south-02-1600S.jpg
YUCATAN-CHICHENITZA-HIGHPRIESTCOMPLEX-PYRAMIDHIGHPRIEST-Corner-2007.html
YUCATAN-CHICHENITZA-HIGHPRIESTCOMPLEX-PyramidHighPriest-2007_files/Pyramid-of-the-High-Priest-north-05-1024S.jpg
The east side of the Pyramid of the High Priest in the High Priest Complex at Chichen Itza