Enter the sacred cave of the Mayans, Balankanche

Do you know the sacred cave of Balankanche? A cave that was used for rituals for the Mayan people, in Yucatan, Mexico.

The Mayan people believed in a division between heaven, earth and the underworld. For them, the caves were like portals or gateways that lead to Xibalba, an underground realm that would be ruled by the gods of death and their allies. Balankanche Cave is one of them. It is about 2 km long. At first, the water table was at least six meters lower than today, which was useful for the Maya, so that they could go deeper into the maze of caves for their rituals.

The Maya had built quadrangle-shaped structures around the entrance to the cave, but they were demolished in the 1950s because a bulldozer was there to restore a road. This sacred cave was connected to Chichén Itzá by a sacbé, a Mayan term meaning “white path” or “white road”. In other words, it is a paved road that certainly served as a sacred road for Mayan pilgrims.

Cave exploration in the 20th century

The cave was first discovered and then explored by archaeologists in 1905, but the greatest discoveries were made in 1959 when José Humberto Gómez discovered a series of sealed passages. The blocking present allowing to lead to a room called pagan altar of the Ceiba (world tree). This place contained a limestone column formed by the fusion of stalactites and stalagmites which gives the impression of resembling a large Ceiba. Around this limestone formation, the Mayas left offerings: ceramic jars, stone tools or even shells. This place was to be intended for the god of rain and agriculture: Chaac. A god depicted with a human body, reptile scales, and a non-human head with fangs and a long nose.