Chicanna is just a few kilometers from Becan, so we headed there next. It is a much smaller site. Archaeologists think it was not a true city, but instead believe it served as a royal retreat for the Becan aristocracy. Chicanna was built later than Becan, it was abandoned around 1100 A.D. Like Hormiguero, Chicanna is impressive because two of its buildings have intricately carved facades depicting an elaborate monster mask around the main doorway. The giant mask was a representation of Itzamna.

We do not know the original name of this ancient site, Chicanna is a modern name, given to these ruins because of the facade on Structure II. Chi means mouth, can means serpent, and na means house. Thus, Chicanna = House of the Serpent Mouth.

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