09:39 18-12-2025
The Pyramid of Kukulcán: a living Maya calendar at Chichén Itzá
Discover how Chichén Itzá’s Pyramid of Kukulcán works as a precise Maya calendar, from 365 steps to the equinox serpent of light, guiding seasons and rites.
When travelers arrive at Chichén Itzá, they usually head straight for the Pyramid of Kukulcán, the landmark that defines this ancient Maya city. Few realize it is more than an old structure or a temple: the pyramid doubles as a working calendar that tracks time with striking precision, without a single circuit or wire.
As many steps as days in a year
The pyramid has four stairways, each with 91 steps. Add them up and include the top platform, and you get 365—the exact number of days in a common year. That was no accident.
The structure also has 18 tiers, which researchers believe represent the 18 months of 20 days in the Maya calendar. It’s hard not to be struck by how clearly the builders understood the flow of time and embedded that knowledge in stone.
How the sun brings the serpent to life
The most captivating moment comes twice a year, at the spring and autumn equinoxes. Sunlight hits the pyramid at such an angle that a serpent-shaped shadow appears to glide down the staircase. It isn’t a trick of the eye but a carefully planned effect, linked to the god Kukulcán, whom the Maya depicted as a feathered serpent.
This play of light shows the building wasn’t made as mere ornament. It helped people track the turn of the seasons and pinpoint key dates in the year.
A calendar that doesn’t need batteries
The Maya used several calendars: a 365-day solar count; a ritual one for ceremonies and festivals; and a way to tally long spans of time, such as years and centuries. Together they guided when to plant and harvest and when to hold rites.
Remarkably, their calculations were highly precise. They knew the length of the year with minimal error—more accurately than Europe managed for several centuries afterward. And they did it without telescopes, computers, or any digital device.
Researchers are still examining the pyramid and continue to find new details. For example, underground caves with water were discovered inside, which may also have carried special meaning. There are even hypotheses that the building served not only as a calendar but also helped amplify sound during ceremonies.