Photograph by David Coleman. Chichen Itza, located in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, represents one of the most significant archaeological sites of Maya civilization. The Temple of Kukulcan dominates the ancient city center, rising 98 feet high with a base measuring 181 feet on each side. Built in multiple phases between the 8th and 12th centuries CE, the pyramid exhibits classic Maya architectural features including nine stepped platforms symbolizing the nine levels of the Maya underworld. The structure's precise astronomical alignments create unique visual effects, most notably during the spring and autumn equinoxes when sunlight creates a serpentine shadow along the northern staircase. The pyramid's architectural elements incorporate important Maya mathematical concepts, with the total of 365 steps reflecting the solar year. Each of the four sides features 91 steps, with the platform at the top counting as the final step. The temple served as both a calendar and a place of worship dedicated to the Maya deity Kukulcan, the feathered serpent god. The structure demonstrates the Maya's advanced knowledge of architecture, mathematics, geometry, and astronomy.
