View of one side of El Castillo at Chichen Itza in Mexico. "Kukulkan Pyramid was built for astronomical purposes and during the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3pm the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes 7 isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent roughly 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulkan" (means the feathered serpent), and believes it could have been connected with agricultural rituals,"--Chichen Itza website.
View of El Castillo at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "Immediately to the south of the palace structures is the main pyramid. This is the tallest structure at the site, rising up maybe 15 feet/4 meters. The one stairway faces to the south towards El Rey, and the pyramid itself lies along the causeway that once linked the two together. A small temple crowns the pyramid summit, and was built in the East Coast Style with a columned entryway. Investigations have revealed three distinct building phases, a common practice of the Maya,"--Mayan Ruins website.
View of one side of El Castillo at Chichen Itza in Mexico. "Kukulkan Pyramid was built for astronomical purposes and during the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3pm the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes 7 isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent roughly 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulkan" (means the feathered serpent), and believes it could have been connected with agricultural rituals,"--Chichen Itza website.
View of steps going up El Castillo at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "Typical of Mayan pyramids, El Castillo serves as a monumental representation of the Mayan calendar. The structure is made up of nine levels which represent the nine levels of the ‘afterlife’. Each of the four sides consists of a series of terraces which total 18 – the number of months in the Mayan year. Each side has a staircase which slants at a perfect 45-degree angle. Each staircase has 91 steps, which combined, and including the top platform, totals 365 – one for each day of the year ... The temple on top of the platform features walls that continue the pyramid’s slanted angle before transitioning to vertical. Vertical stone shafts similar to those found in Hindu architecture are found above the frieze, surrounded by bas-relief carvings of animals and fruits. The apertures to the pyramid temple are divided using twin circular columns which are carved as serpents,"--Designing Buildings Wiki.
Detail view of square columns at the Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "The Temple of the Warriors is a large stepped pyramid that was named after the surrounding carved columns depicting warriors. This temple is similar to Temple B at the Toltec capital of Tula. The one at Chichen Itza, however is much larger. The Temple of Warriors is approached by a broad stairway with a plain, stepped ramp on either side, each ramp has figures of standard-bearers to hold flags. At the top of the stairway on the temple’s summit sits Chac Mool, a statue depicting a reclining figure supporting itself on its elbows with a bowl or a disk upon its stomach ... Along the south wall of the Temple of Warriors are a series of about 200 columns, prompting the name Plaza of a Thousand Columns. When Chichen Itza was inhabited these would have supported an extensive roof system. The columns are in three distinct sections: a west group, that extends the lines of the front of the Temple of Warriors; a north group, which runs along the south wall of the Temple of Warriors and contains pillars with carvings of soldiers in bas-relief; and a northeast group, which apparently formed a small temple at the southeast corner of the Temple of Warriors,"--Chichen Itza Ruins website.
Detail view of square columns at the Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza, Mexico. "The Temple of the Warriors is a large stepped pyramid that was named after the surrounding carved columns depicting warriors. This temple is similar to Temple B at the Toltec capital of Tula. The one at Chichen Itza, however is much larger. The Temple of Warriors is approached by a broad stairway with a plain, stepped ramp on either side, each ramp has figures of standard-bearers to hold flags. At the top of the stairway on the temple’s summit sits Chac Mool, a statue depicting a reclining figure supporting itself on its elbows with a bowl or a disk upon its stomach ... Along the south wall of the Temple of Warriors are a series of about 200 columns, prompting the name Plaza of a Thousand Columns. When Chichen Itza was inhabited these would have supported an extensive roof system. The columns are in three distinct sections: a west group, that extends the lines of the front of the Temple of Warriors; a north group, which runs along the south wall of the Temple of Warriors and contains pillars with carvings of soldiers in bas-relief; and a northeast group, which apparently formed a small temple at the southeast corner of the Temple of Warriors,"--Chichen Itza Ruins website.
View of the back of the Temple of the Large Tables at Chichen Itza, Mexico. “This is a small pyramid formed by a four tiered plinth (base or foundation) with a building on top where there are some rectangular altars supported by small “atlases,” from whence comes the name of the structure. The access steps lie to the west, the principal side. There are representations of warriors on the door jambs as well as on the temple pillars. On the upper part of the outside walls there are friezes with plumbed serpents and jaguars. This construction covers an earlier one, rich in decoration with serpents on the vaulting and warriors on the pillars,”-Site placard.
Detail view of stone work at the bottom of the Temple of the Large Tables at Chichen Itza, Mexico. “This is a small pyramid formed by a four tiered plinth (base or foundation) with a building on top where there are some rectangular altars supported by small “atlases,” from whence comes the name of the structure. The access steps lie to the west, the principal side. There are representations of warriors on the door jambs as well as on the temple pillars. On the upper part of the outside walls there are friezes with plumbed serpents and jaguars. This construction covers an earlier one, rich in decoration with serpents on the vaulting and warriors on the pillars,”-Site placard.
Detail view of steps leading up to the Temple of the Big Tables at Chichen Itza, with two columns at the top. Text from placard: "This is a small pyramid formed by a four tiered plinth (base or foundation) with a building on top where there are some rectangular altars supported by small 'atlases', from whence comes the name of the structure. The access steps lie to the west, the principle side. There are representations of warriors on the door-jambs as well as on the temple pillars. On the upper part of the outside walls there are friezes with plumed serpents and jaguars. This construction covers an earlier one, rich in decoration with serpents on the vaulting and warriors on the pillars."
View of the Temple of the Big Tables at Chichen Itza, Mexico. Text from placard: "This is a small pyramid formed by a four tiered plinth (base or foundation) with a building on top where there are some rectangular altars supported by small 'atlases', from whence comes the name of the structure. The access steps lie to the west, the principle side. There are representations of warriors on the door-jambs as well as on the temple pillars. On the upper part of the outside walls there are friezes with plumed serpents and jaguars. This construction covers an earlier one, rich in decoration with serpents on the vaulting and warriors on the pillars."