Temple of Kukulkan

The Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo, is a step pyramid located at the Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza in Mexico. Built between the 9th and 12th centuries, it served as a religious center dedicated to the Mayan serpent god Kukulkan. The pyramid has four staircases, each with 91 steps, totaling 364 steps, plus the top platform, making 365—matching the number of days in a solar year. During the spring and fall solstices, the setting sun creates a shadow that appears as a serpent descending the staircase, highlighting the Mayan’s astronomical and engineering sophistication.