Explore the Ruins of Ancient Chichen Itza, Mexico

The ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá must be among the most photographed ruins in the Americas, if not the world. The reasons for this are self-evident: it is a truly impressive city, and its dominating feature, the pyramid of Kukulcán, is to many the very symbol of Mexico’s roots in antiquity.

At Chichén Itzá, during the spring and fall equinoxes — that is when the day and night are of equal length — the great pyramid serves as a visual symbol of the day and night. On every equinox, the sun of the late afternoon creates the illusion of a snake creeping slowly down the northern staircase.

The equinox - Every March 21, when the equinox occurs, the light falls in such a way on the northwest corner of El Castillo as to present a graphic depiction of darkness and light, symbolizing day and night. The triangles on the side of the staircase resemble those of a rattlesnake when viewed from the side. Symbolically, the feathered serpent joins the heavens, earth and the underworld, day and night. This engineering feat was accomplished with stone tools, and without the wheel, by orienting the corners with solstitial points. The pyramid sits figuratively and metaphorically at the center of space and time: a temple, the cosmos, a calendar, and a giant sun dial.

These symbolic uses of the Temple of Kukulcán bear comparison with other solar phenomena both in the Americas, and around the world. The megaliths of ancient Europe, Stonehenge in Britain for example, were frequently situated to mark the passage of the seasons. The observance of the solstices and equinoxes is practiced in numerous cultures, and many scholars of religion demonstrate that Christian holidays were often timed to coincide with these events in antiquity.

Increasingly large crowds of visitors come to the site to view the spectacle. Numbers of Maya themselves show up, proud of their heritage and the ancient monuments their ancestors built. There are throngs of tourists, 40,000 last year, both Mexican and foreign, who come to participate in the event. The whole day has a carnival type atmosphere with vendors, and rock bands competing with traditional music and folk dance troupes, and groups of New Agers in robes come to see the equinox. Some people complain about the lack of parking, others reject the commercialization of the event, but seeing so many people at this ancient city contribute a feel of what it must have been like on an important market or religious holiday centuries ago. The crowds are big, so police are on hand to keep people at a distance so everyone can enjoy the view. Unfortunately, the masses that come to celebrate the equinox have caused the pyramid steps to be closed off so that it can no longer be climbed.

Source: UNC Institute for the Study of the Americas