At El Castillo pyramid in Chichen Itza, the famous feathered serpent descends not at sunrise but at 4:30-4:40 PM. Shadows create wavy chevron patterns sliding down the staircase, representing the serpent slithering toward the underworld. The pyramid's four sides symbolize four seasons. A guard revealed that during a full moon at equinox, the same shadow effect occurs at night - the moon casting a lunar serpent across the steps. COVID lockdown meant the site was empty when this was witnessed firsthand.
Chichen Itza equinox shadow effect: serpent descends El Castillo pyramid at 4:30-4:40 PM
PeruArchaeoastronomy
Key facts
- On spring and autumn equinoxes, shadows on El Castillo pyramid create a serpent sliding effect
- The phenomenon occurs at 4:30-4:40 PM, not at sunrise or sunset
- The shadow creates wavy chevron or triangle patterns representing the serpent's slithering and sliding
- This effect connects to Kukulcan (Feathered Serpent) mythology
- The pyramid symbolizes four sides representing four seasons
- A guard revealed that during the full moon at equinox, a lunar shadow creates the same effect at night
- The site was locked during COVID when Stuart witnessed the equinox effect personally
Site mentioned
Sources
Kukulkan Pyramid Equinox - Chichen Itzachichenitza.com
The shadow effect that the mayans created, showcases a 120 ft length snake creeping downstairs until it joins a huge serpent's head at the bottom of the ...
El Castillo, Chichen Itza - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Plumed Serpent on Kukulcán. Shadows cast on Kukulcán during Equinox at Chichen Itza.
El Castillo - Ancient Observatories: Chichén Itzáannex.exploratorium.edu
As the equinox sun sets, a play of light and shadow creates the appearance of a snake that gradually undulates down the stairway of the pyramid. This diamond- ...
The descent of the serpent in the Chichen Itza Equinoxmayanpeninsula.com
The effect lasts a few minutes and is made when the sun casts the shadow onto the stairway created by the 9 platforms resembling the body of the serpent that ...
The Equinox at Chichén Itzánaatikmexico.org
During the equinox, you can bear witness to a magical optical illusion of a snake descending the pyramid of Kukulcán.
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