The Kukulcan temple is the main building of the Chichen Itza citadel. It is a pyramidal structure dedicated to the god Kukulcan, the Mayan deity equivalent to Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent worshiped by most Mesoamerican cultures.
Every equinox, thousands of people visit the Chichen Itza archaeological complex to observe a world-famous phenomenon: The Descent of Kukulcan.
It is a spectacle that takes place on the north wall of the Pyramid of Kukulcan in which a shadow is projected into the stairs of the pyramid, as the sun moves the shadow seems to meander from the highest part of the pyramid to the floor, this movement culminates in a sculpture that is the head of the Mayan god Kukulcan creating the illusion of a serpent coming down the pyramid.
According to the myth, the descent of Kukulcan is an optical effect planned by the Itzaes, the founding people of the city of Chichen Itza, who, based on their extensive knowledge of engineering, architecture and astronomy, designed the temple in such a way that every equinox the descent to earth of the feathered serpent is relieved.
When is it best to observe the descent of the feathered serpent?
Seeing the sunsets in Chichen Itza and enjoying the nights of Kukulcan always results in a magical experience.
However, none of that compares to seeing with your own eyes how “a divinity comes down to earth”. This is a unique event that can only be observed at sunset, during the March and September equinoxes.
When was the first Kukulcan descent recorded?
As of today there are no historical records that indicate when the Mayans were able to see this magical event for the first time. However, from the archaeological point of view, the first record of the phenomenon dates back to the 1930s. In this regard, the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) indicates in a statement:
“The serpentine solar projection that runs along the northern ladder rafter of El Castillo, in Chichen Itza, during the spring and autumn equinoxes, and which attracts thousands of visitors to the Yucatecan archaeological zone, is, in fact, a recent archaeological myth, since the oldest references on this optical phenomenon do not go beyond the 30s of the 20th century ”. (Note: the “ladder rafter” is the side view of a ladder).
Chichen Itza became world known In the 1980s, when a television broadcast captured the descent of the feathered serpent in a live transmission that was shown in Mexico and several other countries, consolidating Chichen Itza as one of the top archaeoastronomical sites in the world.
What about tthe myth of Kukulcan
There are those who say that the Mayan god Kukulcan is the same deity known as Quetzacoatl to the Aztecs, because he is represented in the same way: As a feathered serpent. In any case, the truth is that his presence is abundant throughout Mesoamerica and southern Mexico.
Kukulcan appears as one of the creative deities under the name of Gucumatz in the Popol Vuh, a book considered the Bible of the K’iche Maya (or “Quiche Maya”, one of the ethnic groups that occupied what is now Guatemala, Honduras, Belice and part of southeastern Mexico). He also appears as a deity of the winds by the name of Ehecatl on Stela 19 at Ceibal (also known as “Seibal”, an archaeological site in Guatemala.
Venus and the representation of the feathered serpent for the Mayans
The Mayans were one of the most advanced ancient cultures. By 6,000 BC they already had an advanced cultural development that included the formation of complex societies, complex religion, astronomy, mathematics, geography, agriculture, metropolis cities, monumental architecture, water purification and distribution systems, writing and calendrical systems.
The conditions of the Yucatan Peninsula and part of Central America facilitated astronomical observation and allowed them to perform complex calculations, such as seasonal cycles and astronomical transitions, in particular of Venus, the planet that ruled their life and was considered a representation of Kukulcan.
After the Sun and the Moon, Venus was the most relevant astronomical object for ancient cultures. This is because she is the brightest star in the sky and is the first to appear at night and the last to say goodbye at the beginning of the day.
In particular, for the ancient Maya, Venus implied an importance on the same level as the Moon and the Sun.
The Mayans called Venus Ahzab Kab Ek (“the star that awakens the Earth”) and Noh Ek (“the great star”), linking their appearance and disappearance in the sky with Kukulcan, one of the creative deities of humanity according to the Popol Vuh, represented as a feathered serpent.
According to the Mayan chronicles, Kukulcan is the conqueror who arrived in Yucatan by sea from the west, towards the end of the 11th century, and became the leader and founder of their civilization. In this he agrees with the god Quetzalcoatl, Aztec mythology.
Come to Chichén Itza to live this magical experience with your own eyes on an exclusive tailor-made tour where you can also enjoy the wonders of the Riviera Maya from the hand of native guides!
