About
Chichén Itzá was a major Maya city on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, reaching its peak between 600–1200 CE. El Castillo (the Castle), also known as the Temple of Kukulcán, is a 30-meter pyramid with a brilliant astronomical design: during the spring and autumn equinoxes, the setting sun creates a shadow that appears as a serpent descending the northern staircase, representing the feathered serpent god Kukulcán.
The site also contains a great ball court — the largest in Mesoamerica — where losing players may have been sacrificed. The Sacred Cenote (natural well) at the site was a place of ritual offering where gold, jade, and human remains have been recovered.
# Top 10 Chichen Itza facts
- 1During the equinoxes, a shadow serpent appears to crawl down the pyramid — a 1,000-year-old light show
- 2The pyramid has 365 steps — one for each day of the year
- 3Human skeletons, gold, jade, and rubber balls have been retrieved from the Sacred Cenote
Fascinating Facts
- ◆During the equinoxes, a shadow serpent appears to crawl down the pyramid — a 1,000-year-old light show
- ◆The pyramid has 365 steps — one for each day of the year
- ◆Human skeletons, gold, jade, and rubber balls have been retrieved from the Sacred Cenote
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