Edzna, Campeche

History
The origen of the Itza is from the Chontal lineage. Because it was such a large group, people from other settlements referred to all the inhabitants of this old Mayan city as Itzas. This is where the name Edzna/Itzna come from – house of the Itzas. The first evidence of occupation dates to 400 A.D. Great agriculturists, they developed a well organized society and built monumental buildings and a watering system for their crops and life. Between 400 and 1000 A.D. they instituted a legitimate government whose power was based on a relationship between the governors and the dieties. They slowly fell into wreck and ruin until they disappeared in 1450.

The Mask of the Sunset, located in the oldest part of the ruins of Edzna.

The site
The main plaza is an large space where you will find the largest number of buildings. To the north and south, there are two sac-be, white roads, that were used for inside circulation. The platform of the knives and the patio of the ambassadors date 1000 – 1200 A.D.
The nohochná or big house, was possibly used for admistrative purposes or as bleachers for seeing events celebrated in the main plaza.
The south temple is made up of five parts with moldings and corners dating between 600 and 900 AC.
The ball court is made up of two parrallel structures. On the top part are rooms that were possibly used to house images of the gods associated with the events along with things needed for the games.
The temple of the masks has two representations of the sun god with characteristics of the Mayan elite – crossed eyes, mutilated teeth, nose and ear guards and feathered head dress.
The small acropolis, dating to 200 B.C. has four buildings on top of it that make up a central pation. Some of the oldest elements in Edzna are found here: a huge stuco mask from the Superior Pre-Classis period, three stellae of the eight baktun (between 41 and 435 A.D.) and ceramic dating from 250 – 400 B.C.

The Grand Acropolis at Edzna.

The grand acropolis is a large cuadrangle space over which various monumental structures were built; the most impressive is the five store buil-ding dating to 652 A.D.
Puuc patio is surrounded by various constructions covered with heavily carved cuadrangle, rectangle and cilindrical stone blocks. From this with curved talus, you will note a sculpture in the shape of a square frame showing the rain god Chaac and glyphs of celestial beings, the day mix and the month yax. Right in the middle of the principal patio you will find the temascal, a nahualt word that refers to steam baths. Entrance into the temascal was limited because of its religious importance.

Light & Sound Show
Don’t miss the Luz of the Itzaes every Friday and Saturday night at 8 PM in the summer and 7 PM in the winter. This is an impressive, worthwhile show.

How to get there
From Campeche City:
Located 61 kms southeast of Campeche city via highway 180, you turn off towards highway 261 at km. 45. Or you can go via the village of Chiná, Pocyaxum and Nohacal, 48 kms from Campeche.
From Merida:
To reach Edzna, follow the signs from the road between Merida and Campeche. There is a small information hut at the entrance where you will pay your entrance fee. The hut also serves as a small store for local handicrafts.

Read more about the State of Campeche
 City of Campeche
 Calakmul and Champoton
 Campechan Cuisine
 Day Trip to Campeche and Edzna
Transportation in the Yucatan

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