How does the Mayan Temple Chichen Itza reply with a chirping sound when you clap in front of it?
Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air. The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels. He’d then turn and face the Temple of Warriors and clap again, causing a low rattle to seemingly emit from the rocks.
What is special about El Castillo?
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.
Why does Chichen Itza echo?
There is much evidence that the Maya made use of quetzal feathers in their ceremonies at Chichen Itza and elsewhere. It is argued that for ancient man, echoes were voices from a spirit world. It seems appropriate that the Temple of Kukulkan should echo with the spirit voice of the quetzal.
Why does Chichen Itza sound like a bird?
The bird-call effect, which resembles the warble of the Mexican quetzal bird, a sacred animal in Mayan culture, was first recognized by California-based acoustic engineer David Lubman in 1998. The ‘chirp’ can be triggered by a handclap made at the base of the staircase. “It really sounds like a bird”, says Declercq.
What was the purpose of El Castillo in Chichen Itza?
In the case of El Castillo, it served as a temple to the ‘feathered serpent’ god Kukulcan. Upon arriving in Mesoamerica in the 15th century, the conquering Spanish adopted the structure as a strategic lookout, placing cannon on top of it and naming it El Castillo (‘the castle’).
Why was El Castillo made?
Built by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries AD, the pyramid served as a temple to the deity Kukulcán, the Yucatec Maya Feathered Serpent deity closely related to Quetzalcoatl, a deity known to the Aztecs and other central Mexican cultures of the Postclassic period.
Did you know facts about Chichen Itza?
- This famous Mayan site may not be entirely Mayan.
- Chichen Itza gets its name from a cenote nearby.
- The main pyramid nests multiple smaller pyramids inside it.
- Monuments of Chichen Itza were astronomically aligned.
- The Serpent God, Kukulkan descends on the pyramid twice every year.
What is El Castillo in Chichen Itza?
Towering over the historical site of Chichen Itzá, El Castillo has quickly become the modern-day symbol of this ancient Mayan metropolis that today is one of the seven modern wonders of the world. Although it certainly isn’t the only must-see sight in Chichen Itzá, it’s for sure the most photographed.
What is the significance of the alignment of El Castillo?
This otherworldly alignment further supports the position of El Castillo as an axis Mundi and denotes the importance of the structure itself in the everyday life of the Mayan inhabitants at Chichen Itza. The western parts of the pyramid are aligned to zenith sunset and nadir Sunrise, which in turn are connected to planting and harvesting seasons.
What is El Castillo in Mexico famous for?
EL CASTILLO 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.
Where was the Pyramid of El Castillo built?
The pyramid was built in the city of Chichen Itza, and the pyramid of El Castillo is more famous as just Chichen Itza rather than The Castle. The city where the pyramid was built was a major focal point in the Northern Maya lowlands, starting from the Late Classic well into the Postcallsic Period of the Maya.