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Kukulcan Pyramid

The Vernal Equinox (equinox meaning “equal night”) officially marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and fall in the southern hemisphere. The official time for Vernal Equinox 2010 is 1:32 p.m. EST on March 20.

In the world of the ancient Maya there were many sacred days, most often associated with celestial events. But none perhaps more widely celebrated than the Spring and Fall Equinox at the ancient site of Chichén Itza in central Yucatan, Mexico. Each year thousands of tourists from all over the world flock to the ancient Mayan ruin of Chichén Itza to join locals in witnessing the incredible natural show of the Vernal Equinox. Also known as ‘El Castillo’ because of its dominating size, the Mayan Kukulcan pyramid in the Yucatan peninsula is the largest Mayan temple in Mexico. Visitors watch in amazement as the afternoon shadow of the serpent god Kukulcan slowly snakes its way down the immense steps of the ruin. Up to 40,000 visitors travel to the site each year to watch this magical event.

Kukulcan, (or Quetzalcoatl God, the plumed serpent), was the symbol of a sun-Pleiades-zenith conjunction. Exactly 60 days after the Spring Equinox, on May 20, the zenith passage of the sun takes place over Chichen Itza. The Crotalus rattlesnake, whose pattern is constantly used in Mesoamerican art, has a marking on it which is identical to the Solar ‘Ahau’ glyph of the Maya, and its rattle was called ‘tzab’, which is the same word used for the Pleiades star cluster.

The moving snake on the Pyramid is an annual reminder of a conjunction of the zenith sun with the Pleiades over Chichen Itza, but this is an event which will only occur during a 72-year time window, from 1976 to 2048. Right at the centre of this time window is the year 2012, when the Great Cycle ends. On May 20 2012, the zenith passage combines with a solar eclipse, on the Tzolkin day 10 Chichan, which means serpent. The winter solstice end-point will be 4 Ahau in the Tzolkin calendar, meaning Lord/Sun, and 3 Kankin in the Haab calendar, which means ‘snake-day’.

Happy Vernal Equinox to all of you!

The March Equinox explained: www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html
Equinoxes Video on NG: video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/science/space-s…
“Equinox at Chichen Itza” on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0kOyGZxKh4

© Copyright 2010 Michael Paukner. All Rights Reserved.