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Perspective
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Perspective of the limestone column in the Cave of Balankanche, created from laser scan dataWhat is a Perspective?Gruta de Balankanche InformationLocated about 5.5km from the monumental core of Chichén Itzá, the Grutas de Balankanche ('Cave of the Jaguar's Throne' in Yucatec) were evidently one of the city's most important ceremonial sites. In ancient Maya belief systems, a cave (Gruta) is a sacred place. Caves offer a portal to Xibalba, the Maya underworld, where the spirits of the valiant dead tangle with supernatural beings, and the roots of the great World Tree are found. From here, these roots extend through the earthly realms of the forests up to the celestial heavens of the mountains. Caves are seen as the mouths of the Witz mountain spirits, and water is seen as having its origin deep within them, issuing forth as rain or rivers.The limestone karst landscape of the Yucatán possesses many extensive caves, and most Maya cities have several which were used as elite temples for ceremonial purposes, mainly those involved in the invocation of water and crop fertility (corn is also seen as having originated in Xibalba). Their existence was long-known to local people and explorers, but it was not until 1959 that a local tour guide named Jose Humberto Gomez stumbled upon a passageway that had been deliberately obscured in antiquity. Through this passage was found the main chamber with all of its artifacts intact surrounding a great natural limestone column, stretching from floor to ceiling, in the center of the room. All artifacts were left in situ, where they remain today.  Go To Chichén Itzá Home
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