| The legendary Sacred Cenote (natural waterhole) of Chichén ltzá was special to the people for its religious and social significance.On occasions, the sacrifice of human life was part of the offerings made to the god of water. Nevertheless, it was not as common as had earlier been imagined. |
Edward Thompson, explorer and archaeologist,
had the cenote dragged at the beginning of the 20th century hoping to
find great treasures. He did bring up some valuable gold and other metal
ornaments, but discovered that human sacrifices 
were not as common as the 16th Century Spanish priest, Diego de Landa,
had supposed.
According to Diego de Landa:
| Into this well the Mayas
were and still are accustomed to throw men alive as a sacrifice to
the gods in times of drought; they held that they did not die, even
though they were not seen again. They also threw in many other offerings
of precious stones and things they valued greatly; so if there were
gold in this country, this well would have received most of it, so
devout were the indians in this.
This well is seven long fathoms deep to the surface of the water, more than a hundred feet wide, round, of natural rock marvellously smooth down to the water... At the top near the mouth, is a small building where I found idols made in honour of all the principal buildings in the land, like the Pantheon in Rome... I found sculptured lions, vases and other things, so that I do not understand how anyone can asay that these people had no tools. (Writings of Diego de Landa from Chichén-Itzá: The City of the Wise Men of the Water. by Roman Chan ). |
It would seem that the early inhabitants preferred to offer semi-precious stones, metal and clay objects to the gods of water. All of the offerings which were found were either broken or damaged as a part of the sacrificial ceremony. The objects and the occasional human victims (young girls, boys or warriors) were thrown to the cenote from the platform next to the altar, which is still in partial existence. Part of this temple was adopted as a ritual bath, where the participants were purified.
[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.]
Decorated copper disc taken from the Sacred Cenote at Chichén-Itzá
Photograph of the Sacred Cenote at Chichén-Itzá.
The Yucatán has many such natural wells or cenotes.
Battle scene from a carved disc which was found in the cenote.