What happens at Chichen Itza at Equinox?

Equinox at Chichen Itza On every equinox, the sun of the late afternoon creates the illusion of a snake creeping slowly down the northern staircase. Symbolically, the feathered serpent joins the heavens, earth and the underworld, day and night.

What does El Castillo represent?

El Castillo—in Spanish, “the castle”—looms at the center of Chichén Itzá, a 79-foot pyramid of stone. Also known as the Pyramid of Kukulkán, the structure embodies Mayan myth along with natural astronomical cycles. The phenomenon that El Castillo is famous for occurs twice each year, at the spring and fall equinoxes.

What effect occurs at El Castillo during the spring and autumn equinoxes?

Around the spring and autumn equinoxes, the late afternoon sun strikes off the northwest corner of the pyramid and casts a series of triangular shadows against the northwest balustrade, creating the illusion of the feathered serpent “crawling” down the pyramid.

What was the function of the Castillo in Chichen Itza?

At the heart of Chichen Itza, a stepped pyramid served as temple to the “feathered serpent” god Kukulcan. The solar alignments and architectural details give clues about the function of this temple. It served as a center for sacrifice and preaching.

How did El Castillo in Chichen Itza get its name?

El Castillo, is Spanish and means “The Castle”. This was the name the Spanish conquistadors gave the pyramid when they arrived in the ancient civilisation. However, the building was never really a castle, nor a fortress, as the Spaniards assumed.

When is the equinox at Chichen Itza?

The celestial event that marks this transition is called an “equinox,” and it happens twice every year around March 21 and Sept. 21 You can attend this extraordinary phenomenon in one of the most famous Mayan Ruins named by UNESCO a World Heritage Site and a Wonder of the World, “Chichen Itza”.

What’s the name of the pyramid in Chichen Itza?

The Chichen Itza Pyramid known as El Castillo or The Castle is the main Chichen Itza Pyramid and is the building designated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Where is the location of Chichen Itza in Mexico?

Aerial view of a small portion of Chichen Itza Chichen Itza is located in the eastern portion of Yucatán state in Mexico. [10] The northern Yucatán Peninsula is karst , and the rivers in the interior all run underground.