El Caracol, Chichen Itza

Welcome to one of the most intellectually significant and visually unique structures in the entire ancient Maya world. Standing before you is El Caracol, broadly recognized today as the great Observatory of Chichen Itza. …

Take a moment to fully appreciate the highly unusual architecture of El Caracol. Look up at the central cylindrical tower. …

To understand what the astronomers were looking for from the top of El Caracol, we must talk about the planet Venus. While modern society often associates Venus with love and beauty, the ancient Maya viewed the Morning and…

Look closely at the upper portion of the ruined cylindrical tower. Though much of the roof has collapsed over the centuries, you can still clearly see several small, narrow, rectangular windows piercing the thick stone walls of…

While tracking Venus for warfare was crucial for the elite, the work done at El Caracol had a much more immediate, life-or-death impact on the common citizens of Chichen Itza: agriculture. Standing here on the flat Yucatan…

To process the massive amounts of astronomical data being collected at El Caracol, the Maya had to develop an incredibly sophisticated system of mathematics. It is impossible to fully appreciate this observatory without…

As we walk around the perimeter of the great observatory, we must challenge our modern understanding of how the world works. Today, we naturally draw a hard, definitive line separating science from religion. …

As we conclude our time at El Caracol, take one last look at the ruined, dome-like tower standing proudly above the jungle. The roof may have collapsed, and the brilliant astronomers who once climbed its dark spiral staircase are…