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Sgnappy — El Castillo

Published: 2009-10-03 10:42:18 +0000 UTC; Views: 1989; Favourites: 16; Downloads: 604
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Description “El Castillo” (Spanish for "The Castle") is the nickname of a spectacular Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the center of the Chichén Itzá archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatán.
Built by the Maya civilization sometime between the 10th and 13th centuries AD, "El Castillo" served as a temple to the god Kukulcan (the Maya name for Quetzalcoatl). Inside the temple chamber was a Chac Mool statue and a throne in the shape of Jaguar, painted red and with spots made of inlaid jade, that depicts a human figure in a position of reclining with the head up and turned to one side, holding a tray over the stomach. The meaning of the position or the statue itself remains unknown.
El Castillo, it’s a step pyramid with a ground plan of square terraces with stairways up each of the four sides to the temple on top. Great sculptures of plumed serpents run down the sides of the northern staircase, and are set off by shadows from the corner tiers on the spring and autumn equinoxes. The pyramid has 91 steps on three of the sides and 92 on the north staircase, which adds up to 365 steps, or days of the year.
In recent years, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), which manages the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, has been closing monuments to public access. While visitors can walk around them, they can no longer climb them or go inside their chambers. Climbing El Castillo was halted in 2006 after a woman fell to her death

Originally the steps would have been stucco'd and decoratively painted. Very clever design by very clever people over a 1000 years ago have left some impressive acoustic affects. These show a sophisicated understanding of mathematics and sonics. Even today, when we are dealing with what is really the skeleton of a very old city complex, these effects are surpisingly effective.

Just a curiosity: It is believed that the "chirping echo" one gets from clapping at the base of the pyramid is a deliberate design detail of the builders. The steps give multiple reflections of the impulse from the clap. These multiple reflections, each with a short time difference give rise to the perception of a chirp.

Ok, enough information and sorry for being so long, just enjoy it now!!!
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Comments: 39

erene [2009-10-12 14:35:06 +0000 UTC]

Awesome capture!

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Sgnappy In reply to erene [2009-10-18 11:01:13 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot my friend!

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TBoy360 [2009-10-04 23:31:03 +0000 UTC]

Hello this is one of my need to see places. Nice work

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Sgnappy In reply to TBoy360 [2009-10-05 11:00:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks really so much! This place was really amazing and wonderful!

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TBoy360 In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-11 01:07:40 +0000 UTC]

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fashioneyes [2009-10-04 13:09:58 +0000 UTC]

So nice image dearest Sgnappy.

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Sgnappy In reply to fashioneyes [2009-10-05 09:39:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! this place is so amazing ...!

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JJPESTE [2009-10-04 01:47:58 +0000 UTC]

Sei meglio del NAtional Geographics!
Ma dimmi, dimmi.... sei salita in cima???

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-05 09:41:11 +0000 UTC]

Si, ma non questa volta ... visto che sono 4 anni che hanno chiuso la "scalata". Ci sono salita molti anni fa, la prima volta che sono stata in Messico ed era una vera figata vedere tutto dall'alto!!!!

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-05 13:01:27 +0000 UTC]

Seconda volta???
Ok..alla terza ci porti anche me, peò, d'accordo???

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-05 19:14:52 +0000 UTC]

A dire il vero, e' la mia quarta volta in Messico!
Sai com'e' ... quando mi fisso su qualcosa (Maya) voglio sapere tutto e ho voluto visitare (in 4 volte diverse) tutti i loro siti archeologici!
Andata cmq, la prossima volta sei arruolata!
Porta la nutella, che li spopola di brutto!

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-06 01:01:14 +0000 UTC]

4 VOLTE????????
E io qua con la BORA???
Sgrunt!

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-06 09:14:20 +0000 UTC]

Fai il passaporto e poi ne parliamo ...! eh eh eh

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-06 13:19:58 +0000 UTC]

Con fotosciop?

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-09 19:48:42 +0000 UTC]

NO. Un passaporto VERO.
E no, non ti ritocco la foto, giurin giuretta!

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-09 23:08:29 +0000 UTC]

Scusa.. hai fatto 12 corsi di fotosciop e non mi ritocchi nemmeno la foto sul passaporto?
Io lo farei di professione. penso guadagneresti milioni di euri!
Ritoccatrice professionista di fototessere.

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-10 13:50:00 +0000 UTC]

In effetti hai ragione.
Quasi quasi ci faccio un pensierino! hi hi hi

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-10 13:53:29 +0000 UTC]

Io penso sul serio si possano fare soldoni!
Intanto ti mando 10 euri per la mia carta d'identità indecente!

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-10 14:17:18 +0000 UTC]

Ma scherzi? per te e' tutto gratissssssssss!

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-10 22:25:01 +0000 UTC]

Almeno un caffè e una brioche!

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-11 10:22:04 +0000 UTC]

Rinuncio alla brioche, ma accetto un caffe' con panna!

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-11 11:55:11 +0000 UTC]

ANDATA!
Senti... quando mettiamo nell'hangar il Concorde?

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Sgnappy In reply to JJPESTE [2009-10-11 18:45:08 +0000 UTC]

Considerando che lo sto "portando" da ben 13 mesi e 5 giorni ... ne mancano solo 5 mesi e pochi giorni.
Non ne posso piu', ma volo bene ... eh eh eh

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JJPESTE In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-11 21:58:17 +0000 UTC]

Beh... "Inizi" l'anno nuovo togliendolo (quasi).. bene!

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drrocket [2009-10-03 19:27:04 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful shot Ely and I love the detailed explanation. So many interesting shots lack the information that brings them to life...



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Sgnappy In reply to drrocket [2009-10-05 09:43:47 +0000 UTC]

I thought I was actually getting a little bit boring, but I just do agree with you. Sometimes a picture means nothing, if you don't say anything about it!

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drrocket In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-05 13:21:02 +0000 UTC]



You boring? I hardly think so, .

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Sgnappy In reply to drrocket [2009-10-05 19:12:04 +0000 UTC]

Just a huge and big

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drrocket In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-05 20:58:25 +0000 UTC]



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OneClownShoe [2009-10-03 17:49:52 +0000 UTC]

Perfect shot, my love.
What a beautiful day we had.

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Sgnappy In reply to OneClownShoe [2009-10-05 09:46:29 +0000 UTC]

Si, really fantastic! I wish you could visit other places together! sigh.

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bequite [2009-10-03 16:55:32 +0000 UTC]

cavolo che bella foto!!cosa non è capace di costruire l'uomo?!!

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Sgnappy In reply to bequite [2009-10-05 09:46:48 +0000 UTC]

Gia' ... ma e' anche capace di distruggere tutto altrettanto bene ...!

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bequite In reply to Sgnappy [2009-10-07 13:17:45 +0000 UTC]

si purtroppo...hai ragione

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Momotte2 [2009-10-03 14:23:33 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful place my friend !

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Sgnappy In reply to Momotte2 [2009-10-05 09:47:35 +0000 UTC]

Yes indeed, it was a very amazing place!!!

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wolfman74 [2009-10-03 11:04:18 +0000 UTC]

tanto sti colori domani non ci sono.....
grande foto!!!

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wolfman74 In reply to wolfman74 [2009-10-05 18:56:02 +0000 UTC]

ppppppppprrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rr

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kiky-smile In reply to wolfman74 [2009-10-03 18:41:15 +0000 UTC]

Bellissima Sgnappy... Wolf sei sempre in tempo!!! ahahhahah

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