Chichén Itzá's Pyramid of Kukulkan creates a stunning serpent-shadow illusion during equinox. With 365 steps (one per day) and 9 terraces, it's a solar calendar in stone. Equinox visitors can witness up to 60,000 attendees gather for this spectacular light-and-shadow show!
Pyramid of Kukulkan (El Castillo) located in Chichén Itzá, Yucatan
Mexicoarchaeoastronomy
Key facts
- Pyramid of Kukulkan (El Castillo) located in Chichén Itzá, Yucatan
- Shadow effect creates illusion of serpent sliding down staircase lasting approximately 1 hour 10 minutes
- Effect occurs at approximately 4:15 p.m., not at sunrise or sunset
- Crowd attendance increased from approximately 200 people 12 years prior to approximately 60,000 visitors
- Pyramid features 365 steps depicting the solar year
- Structure contains 52 panels representing each year in the Mayan century
- Contains 18 terraces for 18 months in the Mayan religious year
- Four sides represent four seasons
- Recently discovered: full moon at equinox creates identical shadow effect as sun
- Moon mimics sun's path during the year
- Mixed Toltec and Mayan construction with cosmological symbolism
Site mentioned
Sources
megalithomania.co.uk
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