Platform of the
Eagles and Jaguars

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The elaboratly carved platform is located on the central plain between the Platform of Skulls and the Temple of Venus. The pedestals that top the platform are crowned with serpent heads, over which it is believed there had been standard bearers in the form of jaguars.

The figures of eagles and jaguars devouring hearts are said to represent the warriors who were responsible for obtaining victims for sacrifice to the gods.

The "Eagle Knights" were archers who attacked the enemy before other soldiers fought hand to hand. The aggressive eagles, sculpted on the walls of the platform are the symbol of these elite group of archers who stood out on the battlefield because they wore clothing of feathers from the bird for which they were named.

The "Jaguar Knights" were believed to be the fiercest members of the army, modeled after those found elsewhere in Central Mexico. They fought hand to hand, with wooden clubs tipped with knives of obsidian. They covered themselves with armor made of jaguar skins and helmets of jaguar heads. The figures of jaguars represented the soldiers who were often charged with obtaining prisoners for sacrifice to the city's gods.

[Based on Let's Learn about Chichén-Itzá , Chichén-Itzá: The City of the Wise Men of the Water. by Roman Chan, All About the Mayas. by C. Dorese. published by Producción Editorial Dante (Mérida, Mexico) and Incidents of Travel in the Yucatan by Stephens and Catherwood published by Smithsonian Institute Press (Washington D.C.). All available in paperback and highly recommended.]