Chichen Itza The Platform of Eagles and Jaguars
Be still my beating heart
Chichen Itza The Platform of Eagles and Jaguars is located on the Great Plaza, the Platform of the Eagles sits between the Temple of the Skulls and the Temple of Venus. A combination of both Maya and Toltec styles, the platform was built between 900 and 1200 AD. Like the Castillo and Venus Platform it has a staircase on each of the four sides leading to the top of the platform. The balustrades (stair rails) are topped with an ascending plumed serpent – the serpent God Kukulcán. On the walls of the structure are prostrate human figures. Below them are Eagles and Jaguars gruesomely grasping human hearts.
It is believed that the animals represented two Toltec warrior orders responsible for capturing sacrificial victims. Eagle Knights dressed in battle with feathered costume, were the first into battle and attacked the enemy using bows and arrows. The Jaguar Knights fought ruthlessly hand to hand with clubs fitted with obsidian knives. They wore jaguar skins and jaguar head helmets and were charged with the responsibility of bringing the enemy back to the city for sacrifice to the Gods.
The platform was likely used for religious and ceremonial purposes with a special emphasis about military superiority.
