The Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico-- here among the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza stands the Great Pyramid of El Castillo. Built by the Maya sometime between the 9th and 12th centuries AD, El Castillo served as a temple to the feathered-serpent god Kukulcan. It is also believed to be the site of the Mayan's most important ritual-- human sacrifice. They would bring human victims up the stairs of their temples. They would cut out their beating hearts.
And that would be the form of sacrifice the Mayans engaged in. In the rituals, there was the central importance of blood sacrifice, that by shedding blood they could empower their desire and be granted what they wanted. So there is a theme of blood that runs through this system of sacrifice, that blood must be shed. NARRATOR: Although ritual sacrifice is no longer practiced at El Castillo, worshippers still come to celebrate a time when the Mayans say the god Kukulcan descended from the heavens to bring wisdom to man.
They light fires to unite with the spiritual realm, perform sacred dances, and repeat prayers in numerical sequences to enter a deep state of meditation. But the most powerful ritual that takes place at El Castillo is a re-enactment of Kukulcan's descent to Earth-- a reenactment that is literally built into the pyramid itself. The Castillo is a stepped pyramid with some outward-radiating staircases, and these staircases have big, high balustrades on them.
The Equinox Phenomenon at Chichen Itza: Engineering Marvel or Divine Sign?
And on the autumn and the spring equinox, the sun casts a shadow across the corner of the stepped pyramid, and you see the shadows of the steps on the staircase balustrade. This is a model of the pyramid of Chichen Itza in Mexico. Every year on March 21, when the sun goes up directly on the stairway here, triangles of light and shadow come down the stairs, which represent god Kukulcan has descended to the humans. At the end, you see the face of the god Kukulcan.
On September 21, it's the opposite. This time, when the sun rises in the morning, god Kukulcan goes up the stairs and ends in a bright light up on the little temple, which means god Kukulcan visited the earthlings, taught them, and after a certain period he disappeared again into the sky with the promise to return one day. What we see happening in Chichen Itza is a light phenomenon. We really see technology being displayed here. We see that somebody engineered this so that each equinox people would experience a stone serpent coming alive.
The Maya: Rituals Honoring Gods or Commemorating Extraterrestrial Visitations?
There was a visual reminder of this connection to the gods. It could be that not only are the Mayans celebrating their extraterrestrial ancestors, but it could well be that the ancient aliens who came to Earth instructed the societies that they helped to maintain a connection with them by performing certain rituals, and celebrations at the appearance of stars, and keeping the story of the extraterrestrials alive in their legends. NARRATOR: Did the Maya really conduct these elaborate and bloody rituals to honor a mythical deity, or might they have been, as ancient astronaut theorists contend,
Commemorating an actual visitation by extraterrestrial beings? A ritual is absolutely a way to kind of reconnect with the gods. So not only are you reenacting your faith in this god, right, you are actually reenacting the original moment when the god did a very specific thing. All over the world, ancient people and modern people are using rituals to connect them with gods. Yet these gods may well be ancient astronauts.
Topic | Details |
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Location | Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, at the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. |
Structure | The Great Pyramid of El Castillo, was built by the Maya between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. |
Purpose of El Castillo | Served as a temple to the feathered-serpent god Kukulcan. |
Ritual Sacrifice | Central importance of blood sacrifice. Human victims were brought up the stairs and their beating hearts were cut out. Shedding blood was believed to empower desires and grant wishes. |
Modern-Day Worship | Ritual sacrifice is no longer practiced. Worshippers celebrate Kukulcan’s descent to bring wisdom. Activities include fighting fires, performing sacred dances, and repeating prayers in numerical sequences to meditate. |
Re-enactment of Kukulcan's Descent | Takes place at El Castillo, built into the pyramid itself. Stepped pyramid with staircases and high balustrades. On the autumn and spring equinox, the sun casts a shadow creating the illusion of a serpent descending or ascending the staircase, representing Kukulcan's descent to and ascent from Earth. |
Technology and Engineering | The phenomenon of light and shadow was engineered to create the visual effect of a stone serpent coming alive. A visual reminder of the connection to the gods. |
Ancient Astronaut Theory | Suggests that the rituals and visual effects could be celebrating extraterrestrial ancestors. Ancient aliens may have instructed the Maya to maintain a connection through rituals, celebrations, and legends. |
Purpose of Rituals | Rituals as a way to reconnect with the gods. Reenacting faith and specific actions of the gods. Used by ancient and modern people worldwide. |
Controversy | Debate whether the Maya were honoring a mythical deity or commemorating actual extraterrestrial visitation. Ancient astronaut theorists suggest rituals were a way to reconnect with gods, possibly ancient astronauts. |
FAQS on the Great Pyramid of El Castillo and Mayan Rituals
Q1: What is El Castillo?
- A1: El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcan, is a stepped pyramid located in Chichen Itza, Mexico. It was built by the Maya civilization between the 9th and 12th centuries AD.
Q2: Who was Kukulcan?
- A2: Kukulcan was a feathered-serpent deity worshipped by the Maya. He is associated with the wind, sky, and creation.
Q3: What was the significance of El Castillo?
- A3: El Castillo served as a temple for worshipping Kukulcan and was a site for important rituals, including human sacrifices. The structure is also designed to create a visual effect representing Kukulcan's descent during the equinoxes.
Q4: How were human sacrifices performed at El Castillo?
- A4: The Mayans brought human victims up the pyramid's stairs, where their beating hearts were cut out as an offering. This blood sacrifice was believed to empower their desires and please the gods.
Q5: What rituals are currently practiced at El Castillo?
- A5: Modern worshippers still visit El Castillo to light fires, perform sacred dances, and recite prayers. These activities aim to connect with the spiritual realm and reenact Kukulcan's descent to Earth.
Q6: What happens at El Castillo during the equinoxes?
- A6: During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun creates a shadow effect on the pyramid’s staircase that resembles a serpent descending or ascending the structure. This phenomenon symbolizes Kukulcan's visit to Earth and his return to the heavens.
Q7: What is the significance of the light and shadow effect at El Castillo?
- A7: The light and shadow effect during the equinoxes is a visual reminder of the connection between the Maya and their gods. It is believed to represent Kukulcan’s descent to and ascent from Earth.
Q8: How did the Mayans engineer the light phenomenon at El Castillo?
- A8: The pyramid was precisely designed so that the sun's position during the equinoxes would cast a series of triangular shadows on the staircase, creating the illusion of a serpent moving.
Q9: Are there any theories about extraterrestrial involvement in Mayan rituals?
- A9: Some ancient astronaut theorists suggest that the Mayan rituals and architectural designs may have been influenced by extraterrestrial beings who visited Earth and left behind advanced knowledge.
Q10: What is the purpose of rituals in ancient and modern cultures?
- A10: Rituals are used to connect with deities, reenact significant events, and maintain a spiritual or cultural connection with the past. They serve as a means to honor and remember divine or ancestral figures.
Q11: What evidence supports the theory of extraterrestrial influence on the Maya?
- A11: Proponents of this theory point to the advanced astronomical knowledge, the precise engineering of structures like El Castillo, and the similarities in rituals and legends across various ancient cultures as possible evidence of extraterrestrial contact.