Drawing

North elevation of El Castillo, drawn from laser scan data

El Castillo Information

El Castillo is centered in the Great Plaza, the northern part of Chich�n Itz�. It is a large step pyramid dedicated to the deity Kukulkan, the feathered serpent. El Castillo has nine terraces and four staircases. A large square temple with four doorways sits atop its highest terrace. It towers 30 meters above the Great Plaza with a base of 55 meters on four sides. It is made of cut limestone blocks atop a rubble-fill core.

El Castillo has 91 steps on each side for a total of 365 steps, equal to the number of days in the year under the solar Haab calendar - one of two the Maya used; the 2 equinoxes and 2 solstices each year occur at 91-day intervals. At sunset on the equinoxes (spring and fall), a special phenomenon can be observed at El Castillo - the interplay of light and shadow from the sun's position make it appear that a serpent is slowly snaking down the balustrades of the staircase; this was likely designed as a visual cue for the proper time to do agricultural ceremonies, harvest, and plant new crops.

Deep within this pyramid lies the Jaguar Throne room. It was dedicated to the deity Kukulkan, the feathered serpent.