Chichen Itza equinox shadow effect: serpent descends El Castillo pyramid at 4:30-4:40 PM. 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
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.
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
Related site: El Castillo de Huarmey — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Stuart Mason | Decoding The Long Man of Wilmington and Archaeoastronomy | Megalithomania Interview by MegalithomaniaUK