Archaeologists have long known that this mysterious structure hides a second pyramid within its walls, but new technology has unearthed something strange: a third pyramid inside the second. The clusters which are most popular are, the Ossario Group, the Old Chichen, the Central Group, and the Great North Platform. Although experts are debating whether or not this was done intentionally – if done intentionally it’s definitely proof the ancient Mayans knew a thing or two about acoustic engineering. However, the building was never really a castle, nor a fortress, as the Spaniards assumed. The most recognisable structure here is the Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo. However, the building was never a castle, nor a fortress. There is another pyramid underneath El Castillo. Why? There is also a Chac-Mool; an ancient stone sculpture of a reclining figure used in sacrificial ceremonies. Watch this Youtube video to see what this amazing effect looks like! El Castillo also referred to as the “Temple of Kukulcan,” is about 30 meters high (98 ft) and the 4 sides are about 55.3 meters long (181 ft). During the equinoxes, when the late-afternoon sun hits El Castillo's northwest corner, triangular shadows cascade down the balustrade and end at a decorative serpent's head, creating the look of a feathered serpent slithering down the pyramid. Here’s an article published in the Daily Mail about this finding. This pyramid temple is called the Temple of Kukulkan or the El Castillo. Check out this Belgian study about the bird chirp effect here. El Castillo has four sides, each with 91 stairs and facing a cardinal direction; including the step on the top platform, these combine for a total of 365 steps—the number of days in the solar year. The ancient structures of Chichén Itzá were sacred to the Maya and were a core of their empire from approximately 750 to 1200 A.D. It must have taken them years to build the pyramid as the area surrounding the colossal structure is still quite uneven. I’m a multilingual Finnish girl with an unquenchable thirst for exploring and learning more about different cultures. An interesting fact about the temple of Kukulcan is that it’s built on top of another, much older temple. 9.-The Ball court located to the north-west of the Pyramid “El Castillo” It is the largest and best-preserved ball court in ancient Mesoamerica. They appear when you call them; none have attacked any tourists as of yet. Photo: Seeing the Pyramid of Kukulkán for the first time will leave you feeling small and in awe. The newest parts, the visible and largest of the pyramids, dates back to around 1050-1300 AD. We are committed to reducing the number of ads shown on the site. The Pyramid of Kukulkán was constructed around 700 – 1300 AD. Instead, it’s believed to have been constructed in honour of the serpent deity Kukulkán. Researchers believe that it could help us understand the Mayan culture’s original style and customs. The temple, called Castillo, is about 1 km in diameter. Although it certainly isn’t the only must-see sight in Chichen Itzá, it’s for sure the most photographed. 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Visit Chichen Itzá and you’ll without a doubt hear someone demonstrating this effect. The oldest parts might even date back as far as 550 AD! Discovered as recently as in 2016, the larger, newer pyramid was built on top of an older, smaller one (check out this article on CNN about this). 10.-Chichen Itza has a platform dedicated to the planet Venus located north of El Castillo. These structures in Chichen Itza were not just beautiful buildings but also served as calendars, hence the steps being numbered in terms of a year like El Castillo. t.me/Curiosmos. El Castillo, the Pyramid of Kukulkan. El Castillo—in Spanish, “the castle”—looms at the center of Chichén Itzá, a 79-foot pyramid of stone. At the bottom of the staircase on the North side of the pyramid are two snakeheads, carved out of stone. El Castillo / Temple of Kukulcan / Pixabay 4. This was a temple-pyramid dedicated to the Feathered Serpent God, Kukulcan. The Temple of Kukulkan, the Feathered Serpent God (also known as Quetzalcoatl to the Toltecs and Aztecs) is the largest and most important ceremonial structure at Chichen Itza. The early Spaniards called it El Castillo, meaning the Castle. Join the discussion and participate in awesome giveaways in our mobile Telegram group. Scientists Spot Chimps Doing Mystery Ritual: Have They Entered Their Own Stone Age? My passport might claim I’m 32, but my heart says forever 24. About 125 km west of Cancun and Cozumel, it is the Sacred Cenote, a deep sinkhole that the Mayans used for religious ceremonies, sacrifices to the Gods and more. Why does this old building continue to fascinate visitors over a thousand years after it was built? The meaning of Chichen Itza comes from the Maya Yucateco uchi’ch’e’enitza’, the “City of the Itáes”. It’s still pretty impressive, standing in the middle of a grassy plaza. Instead, it’s believed to have been constructed in honour of the serpent deity Kukulkán. Don't worry, we don't send spam. Each of El Castillo’s four sides has 91 steps which, when added together and including the temple platform, equals the 365 days of the solar year. There are at least two pyramids, but there might even be more! Kukulkán, the God that El Castillo is believed to be dedicated to, had the form of a feathered serpent. This picture is just to demonstrate, the sound can only be heard clapping at the pyramid’s North side, not this side (which is the East side). However, the building was never really a castle, nor a fortress, as the Spaniards assumed. The Pyramid of Kukulcan or Kukulkan (also known as El Castillo, a name given by the Spanish Conquistadors) is the centre of Chichen Itza, it was built over a preexisting temple between 800 and 900 CE. El Castillo, is Spanish and means “The Castle”. I still remember gravitating towards a small book in my school’s library that explained a bit about the pyramids of Eygpt. What makes El Castillo, or the Pyramid of Kukulkán, so special? Scientists have compared El Castillo, Kukulkan’s Pyramid, to the Russian nesting dolls designs. The Pyramid of Kukulkán is not the tallest pyramid the people of Maya built. The book itself was not deep as it was for 5th graders, but it gave me sufficient information regarding the construction process of the pyramids. Photo: At 25 metres, El Castillo is high enough to tower over the other buildings at Chichen Itzá. . There’s also a Chac-mool; a Mayan stone sculpture of a reclining figure used in sacrificial rituals. Archaeologists have discovered thirteen ball courts for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame in Chichen Itza. Spanish conquerors gave this name to the pyramid when they initially discovered the ancient Maya civilization. Please consider turning off Ad-Block. The pyramid also features sculptures of plumed serpents that appear to run down the sides of the northern balustrade of the structure. El Castillo means the ‘castle’ in the Spanish language. Welcome aboard, now let’s go explore! Built on top of an older structure, the 24m- (79ft-) high pyramid was dedicated to Kukulcan, a Mayan snake god. Each of the four sides of the pyramid has a staircase that leads to a temple at the top. The smallest pyramid was built during the original Mayan reign before the Toltec invasion. This however, remains disputed. The Pyramid of Kukulcan or El Castillo-- the most famous landmark of Chichen Itza. Before access to the throne room of the pyramid was restricted, you could climb to the top and, on a clear day, … It also depicts the influence of the Toltecs, who invaded and merged two cultural traditions and beliefs. Here the beautiful pyramid stands seen from the giant Ball Court. For thousands of years, this area was populated by groups such as the Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec peoples. 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