El Caracol (Chichén Itzá, Mexico).Four entrances lead to a narrow passageway that coils upwards to a
El Caracol (Chichén Itzá, Mexico).Four entrances lead to a narrow passageway that coils upwards to achamber with three surviving windows. El Caracol, named for itssnail-like shape, was used as an observatory by the Maya.According to Spanish chroniclers, El Caracol’s round shape symbolizedKukulkan, who was associated with the planet Venus. Venus appears onthe western horizon and disappears on the eastern horizon, with 584days in between. Five Venus cycles add up to eight solar years, andthus Venus appears at the northerly and southerly extremes of ElCaracol at eight-year intervals. -- source link
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