Panorama of the Week: El Castillo at Chichen Itza, Mexico
Filed Under: As some zero in on the Mayan calendar coming to an end at this year’s winter solstice, others go on (that would include us, by the way). In that spirit, we spent the day yesterday with two archaeologists at Chichen Itza Mayan ruins in Mexico’s Yucatan province and dug a bit deeper into the story.
And here’s what we learned: that the end of the Mayan calendar cycle doesn’t mean the end of the world, but rather a new beginning, a new calendar cycle. Think of it as a fresh start.
So if you’ve been panting about the coming of the end of days, perhaps it’s time to breathe a bit easier.
Known affectionately as El Castillo (the castle), the Temple of Kukulkan is the largest of the Mayan pyramids at Chichen Itza. On each of the equinoxes, the light cascades down its staircase making it look as though a serpent is gliding its way into the ground.
But it’s plenty cool, even if it’s not the equinox. Check it out in the panorama below.
Panorama: El Castillo at Chichen Itza in Yucutan, Mexico
For best panorama viewing results, press fullscreen (four arrows) and navigate around with your mouse.
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Disclosure: Our trip to Riviera Maya was supported by Visit Mexico. As always, the opinions expressed here are entirely our own. Special thanks to Julia Miller and Alfonso Morales for sharing their deep knowledge and passion about Maya history and culture with us.
March 9th, 2012 at 11:24 am
I love this structure. It is so iconically Mexico.
March 9th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@John: I have to admit when I think of Mayan pyramids, this is the image that comes to mind. Glad you enjoyed this!
March 10th, 2012 at 3:26 am
Wow this really shows the scale of the Pyramid. It’s a lot larger than I expected.
March 11th, 2012 at 6:25 am
Great panorama! I’m glad you heard it from the best authorities on the matter and had a chance to talk to some archaeologists. I wonder if people are as obsessed with the Mayan predictions there or know enough to, like you, just go on.
March 11th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
It’s amazing what huge structures the Mayans were able to construct. I also found it fascinating that the Olmecs in this region were able to carve such incredible sculptures in an even earlier era.
March 11th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Wow. Really stunning and impressive. Feel like I was there. Bravo.
March 11th, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Purely iconic. My visit there was great.
March 12th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@Dean: Not all of the Mayan pyramids are this big, but the size of this one at Chichen Itza shows the power and wealth of the place in its heyday. This one is around 30 meters.
@Chris: As I understand it, there seems to be more fascination with the Mayan long calendar ending from the outside world than from Mayans themselves. Mayan culture doesn’t have “end of civilization” stories, but instead creation and new cycle traditions.
@Pete: The archeologists were telling us of an earlier Mayan site with a pyramid that is close to 70 meters. Just incredible that they were able to build in such size and quality without any modern tools. Don’t know much about Olmec culture or sculptures, but you’ve piqued my curiosity with your comment. Will do a bit of research.
@Jeff: That’s the goal with these panoramas – to make people feel like they are there!
@Mike: Glad to hear you also had a good visit to Chichen Itza.
March 28th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Love the shot specially in that 360 degree view. Everything on that peninsula is worth a visit…
March 31st, 2012 at 1:14 pm
@Joe: True, the Riviera Maya is definitely worth a visit. In fact, we did a roundup of our time on the Riviera Maya here:
http://www.uncorneredmarket.com/2012/03/riviera-maya-long-weekend/
April 3rd, 2012 at 9:31 am
Pyramid are looking very beautiful. It is the advantage of panorama view.