Chichen Itza

Comment

Comment by IamAnotherYou on June 9, 2009 at 9:07am

...INFORMATIVE & EDUCATIONAL - AS ALWAYS !!!
APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE HERE, OMNI !!!
KEEP THE GOOD STUFF COMMING !!!

Comment by Omnitheus Oneironaut on June 9, 2009 at 1:30am

Ooh - Along with Egypt, I'd love to visit the ancient Mayan temples of Mesoamerica! I'm planning a possible trip to both these places next year. Great pic Dario! Do tell of your a-MAYA-zing experiences whilst there - am very eager to hear them! Keep us informed & updated of your travels.

Another Point of You : OM...

ps(st) - EL CASTILLO - The Temple of Kukulcan:

The Mayans succeeded in an almost impossible mission with the completion of their structures at Chichén Itzá. A poetic combination of form, style, function, religion, philosophy, mathematics and geometry. A true symbiosis of all of their intelligence and art in one location, to be studied and admired by all that visit.

By far the most impressive structure of the complex is the "Pyramid of Kukulcan" * (usually called "El Castillo"). This is a square-based, stepped pyramid approximately 30 meters tall (with the temple on top), constructed by the Mayans ca 1000-1200 AD, directly upon the multiple foundations of previous temples. It was mysteriously abandoned along with the surrounding city of Chichen Itza by 1400 AD.

The pyramid has special astronomical significance and layout. Each face of the pyramid has a stairway with ninety-one steps, which together with the shared step of the platform at the top, add up to 365, the number of days in a year. These stairways also divide the nine terraces of each side of the pyramid into eighteen segments, representing the eighteen months of the Mayan calendar. The pyramid's design reflects the equinoxes and solstices of our solar year in a spectacular game of light and shadow. During the equinoxes, the setting sun casts a shadow of a serpent on the northern steps of the pyramid. For a thousand years, the slanting rays of the setting sun have played a spectacular shadow and light game with this great Mayan pyramid. During the equinoxes, at the appointed hour, the shadow of the Feathered Serpent, Kukulcan appears on the northern stairway...and vanishes. * Kukulcan is the Mayan name for the Feathered Serpent God (also known as Quetzalcoatl to the Aztecs).

Comment by IamAnotherYou on June 9, 2009 at 12:52am

LUCKY - LUCKY !!!
OH, SOOO LUCKY !!!
HAPPY FOR YOU !!!
I AM