Comparison of Tula and Chichen Itza

Scholarly interpretation of a Toltec-Maya congruity—epitomized in the temple complexes of Tula and Chichen Itza, respectively—has been inspired by the virtual interchangeability of iconographic and architectural styles at these two geographically incompatible Precolumbian cities.

Today, we will consider the relevancy of a Toltec occupation of Chichen Itza as we virtually tour the temple complexes of each site using Google maps.

Tula Pyramid B

Figure 1: Tula, Pyramid

Located in the central highland region of Mexico, Tula was established by the Toltecs around 960 CE.  The monumental site displays a dramatic style of iconography the includes their legendary patron, the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl (Figure 2), Chac Mool figures (Figure 3), Toltec warriors, and frequent violent scenes associated with human sacrifice and warfare. Architectonic elements of colonnades and lintels persist (Figure 4), while the temples themselves are designed in typical tablud-tablero style (Figure 5).

Figure 2: The Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl

Figure 3: Chac Mool Statue.

Figure 4: Lintel Supports.

Figure 5: Talud-Tablero building style.

 

Chichen Itza

Figure 6: Chichen Itza, Temple of the Warriors.

The ruins of this former Mayan capital exhibits the remains of one of the largest and most innovative city-states in historical Mesoamerica. Located in the northern lowlands of the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza displays an amalgamation of architectural styles, complying with a new social order that championed alliances and exchange networks.

Through the juxtaposition of the two temple complexes, it becomes apparent that the religious intentions the of the two buildings express the cosmopolitan blending of cultures at Chichen Itza.

Abnormal for a Maya site, the religious iconography of Chichen Itza displays graphic military themes, several depictions of the Toltec war deity, Quatzalcoalt, as well as Choc Mool statues and architectonic figures (Figure 7) rarely found elsewhere in Mesoamerica, except for at Tula. Frieze column reliefs are embellished with Toltec motifs of jaguars, eagles and warriors (Figure 8), blatantly reproduced from Tula as well (Figure 9).

Figure 7: Chac Mool and Lintel Supports, Temple of the Warriors, Chichen Itza.

Figure 8: Bas-Relief Frieze, Chichen Itza.

Figure 9: Bas-Relief Freize, Tula.

The cultural connection through building programs may represent either direct migration, conquest, or more recently popular, cultural diffusion through the exchange of ideas in trade areas.  It seems most likely that prominent Mesoamerican groups conglomerated at Chichen Itza, establishing a more synthetic culture that aimed to share the key traits of each.

WORKS CITED:

Forrest, Crystal. "Mediating Material Culture: The Tula-Chichen Itza Connection."  The University of Western Ontario Journal of Anthropology. 

Gateley, Jim. "Totally Toltec - Toltec Archaeology Styles at Chicen Itza." Archaeology Education, 2006. http://archaeology.about.com/od/archaeologic7/ig/chichen-itza/totally-toltec.htm

Jones, Lindsay. "The Hermenutics of Sacred Architecture: A Reassessment of the Similtude between Tula, Hidalgo and Chichen Itza, Yucatan," History of Religions, 32, 3, 207-232, 1993.

Kristan-Graham, Cynthia, "A Sense of Place at Chichen Itza," Landscape and Power in Ancient Mesoamerica, Westview Press, 2001.
Von Flemmin, Verlag. "Maya Archaeology of the Northwest Yucatan Peninsula." First Maler Symposium, Bonn, 1989.

IMAGES
Figure 1: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4181605917_9711827f85.jpg
Figure 2: http://www.crystalinks.com/QuetzalcoatlAztec.jpg
Figure 3: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~chacmool/Temple_of_the_Warriors_Chacmool.jpg
Figure 4: http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/pyramids/atlantes.jpg
Figure 5: http://www.tikaltour.com/images/taludtablero1.jpg
Figure 6: http://maya.nmai.si.edu/sites/default/files/null/chichenitza_s7_0.jpg
Figure 7: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Chichen-Itza-Chac-Mool-2010.jpg
Figure 8: http://lowres-picturecabinet.com.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/173/main/268/979528.jpg
Figure 9: http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-AL016117.jpg?size=67&uid=4d6e5dda-588d-4272-94e5-77e7b9dd6338