Rising from the heart of the Yucatán Peninsula, El Castillo at Chichén Itzá is far more than a pyramid — it is a mathematical masterpiece carved in stone.
Built by the Maya civilisation between the 8th and 12th centuries, the structure was designed with astronomical precision. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, shadows create the illusion of a serpent descending the staircase — a tribute to the feathered serpent god Kukulkán.
Each of its four sides contains 91 steps. Together with the top platform, they total 365 — mirroring the days of the solar year. This fusion of architecture, astronomy, and symbolism demonstrates a level of knowledge centuries ahead of its time.
Chichén Itzá remains one of the most remarkable examples of how ancient civilisations combined engineering, science, and spirituality into monumental design.