Temple of the Jaguars - Best Seat at the Game

Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0 (cropped)

A stop on Chichen Itza Self-Guided Tour, a free self-guided tour.

Turn to face the ball court's east wall. Built into it is the Temple of the Jaguars, on two levels. The Upper Temple sits on top of the wall, overlooking the playing field, with two large feathered-serpent columns framing its doorway. Inside are the remains of a battle mural, now badly damaged. It is closed to visitors, but imagine the view: whoever stood up there had the best seat in the house.

Now walk around to the plaza side, facing El Castillo, to find the Lower Temple. Its inner walls are covered in carved reliefs crowded with richly dressed figures, and a stone jaguar throne waits at its entrance, worn smooth and missing most of its original paint.

Across the Maya world, jaguars were tied to power, night and the underworld, which makes them fitting guardians for a building linked to the ballgame. Take a minute to study the reliefs closely - feathered headdresses, ornaments and weapons are all carved in remarkable detail.

Getting here: Walk to the south-east corner of the ball court and around to the outside of the east wall, facing the plaza.

Did you know?: This weathered throne has a much luckier twin: a jaguar throne still painted bright red, with jade spots, was found sealed inside El Castillo in the 1930s.

Photo op: From the plaza, step back far enough to fit the Lower Temple and the Upper Temple above it in one vertical shot.

More on Wikipedia: Chichen Itza · Jaguar · Feathered Serpent

Temple of the Jaguars - Best Seat at the Game

Stops on this tour