This magnificent bird, now near extinction, has for thousands of years represented the 'spirit of the Maya'. It isn’t an ordinary booming echo, either. During ceremonies when Kukulcan was being called upon or worshipped, a priest would face the pyramid and clap, creating the chirp. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). The ancient pyramids of Meroe in Sudan are just out of this world! Acoustic studies have revealed compelling similarities between the pyramid’s chirping echo and the call of the sacred bird. But the pyramid does more than put on this spectacular light show. How Come Two Unrelated Communities Built Similar Temples on both Side of the Pacific Ocean Without Knowing Each Other? When you clap your hands in front of Chichen Itza stairs, the echo sounds like a Quetzal bird. Immerse yourself in the complex cultural identity of Mexico City through its street food, bustling markets, and well-seasoned history of gastronomic traditions. A Cenote under the main pyramid of Kukulkan. It was probably during these gatherings that Maya priests or other leaders may have clapped their hands to invoke the quetzal’s call. This “god of the air” was a symbol of goodness and light. share. 3 2 2. Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. Were… (16 Votes, average 4.19) Listen to the distorted echoes immediately after each handclap: they sound rather like a chirping bird. The Quetzal was venered by Maya and archeologists believe the Kukulkan Pyramid Chichen-Itza has been built to sound … You have entered an incorrect email address! And the fact that the echo sound of the Quetzal bird was discovered at the Pyramid of Kukulkan and recreated is almost equally amazing. One thing is for sure, there are indications that the Chichen Itza Chirp was no accident. Here's a video of our Mayan tour guide (who was amazing!) The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, another example of this amazing advanced sound technology is an […], […] Mysterious Sacred Sounds: The Incredible Chirping Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza, Mexico (strangesounds.org) […]. Depictions of Kukulkan often show the distinctively long feathers of the quetzal. Chichen Itza: Kukulkan Pyramid. Combined with the single step at its entrance, there are exactly 365 stairs, which is the exact number of days in the Mayan calendar. Just check it out by yourself with the following video: The Maya built majestic stone cities centered around pyramid-temples like Kukulkan, where people would go to worship their gods and participate in ceremonies timed to their highly sophisticated calendar. It is known that a handclap in front of the stairs of the great pyramid of Chichen Itza produces a chirp echo which sounds more or less like the sound of a Quetzal bird. Learn how your comment data is processed. source: Jen Lampton /image(PrtSc): James Seale Every equinox this Maya pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show. Constructed around 1100 A.D., the 32,400-square-foot pyramid features four stairways with 91 steps each. 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The echo imitates the sound of a quetzal, a sacred bird to the Maya. The Aztec Death Whistle - Strange Sounds, Ancient Populations Used Advanced Sound Technology To Alter Consciousness And Speak With The Dead | Strange Sounds, Celestial Calendar | Will Science For Food. Play. The warbling echo was first studied in 1998 and has been intriguing scholars ever since. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The Great Pyramid of Giza can focus electromagnetic energy, Mysterious volcano-shaped pyramid baffles scientists in Peru, Healing Pyramid of Alexander Golod destroyed by storm in Moscow region (video). The birdsong may be no coincidence. One of the few places where you can take a dip and look at Maya ruins at the same time. This is the most recent of out top 10 Facts … Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. In fact, at the famous pyramid of Chichen Itza in Mexico, if you clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, the sound that comes back to you is the sound of the quetzal's call. Here a spanish video explaning this link between these sacred birds and the chirping pyramid. The Mayans engineered the acoustics of the Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza to chirp like the Quetzal bird - but only when you are standing directly in line with the stairs. Settings. Known for its vibrant plumage, the resplendent quetzal was revered by the Mayas and associated with the feathered serpent deity Kukulkan, to whom its namesake temple is dedicated. Clapping in front of the Mayan Temple of Kukulcan in the ruins of Chichen Itza echoes back with a sound that mimics the colorful native quetzal bird. After becoming locally extinct, this esteemed avian now flies free in the forests around the ancient ruins. More sacred news on Strange Sounds or Steve Quayle. One thing is for sure: the Chichen Itza Chirp was no accident. The mixed-media experiences have been held in Yucatán since the 1970s. Chichen Itza The Quetzal lives on … Links between the main pyramid at Chichen Itza, known as the Pyramid of Kukulkan, and the quetzal bird are supported by the fact that Kukulkan was a Mayan deity, the feathered serpent (usually known in central Mexico as Quetzalcoatl). He’d then turn and face the Temple of Warriors and clap again, causing a low rattle to seemingly emit from the rocks. 1.3k comments. [mappress mapid=”735″]Practicalities There are hotels near Chichen Itza; however, the easiest way to visit is taking a day tour from one of the nearby spots on the coast: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum. At least with the hidden wonders of Chichen Itza, I know what one sounds like. Known for its vibrant plumage, the resplendent quetzal was revered by the Mayas and associated with the feathered serpent deity Kukulkan, to whom its namesake temple is dedicated. It sounds like the song of a ghostly flock of birds, a chorus of chirps that crescendos before fading into silence. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Menu ... Dust in the Wind / Kansas Whirlwind/DustDevil at the Pyramid of Kukulkan/Chichen Itza / Spring Equinox 2019. Whether the pyramid was constructed to deliberately make this noise, or it happened by chance, is still a matter of debate among scientists and archaeologists. Chichen Itza, pronounced chee-chehn eet-sah is the capital of Yucatan State, Mexico. Echoes off buildings are common, but no one distorts sound like this pyramid. The Mysterious Chirping Sounds of Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza, Mexico Are Similar... Mystery Strange Sounds From the Sky Baffle Anchorage, Alaska, The North Atlantic Has Turned Into a Virtual Bomb Cyclone Express Lane With Three Bombogenesis in the Past 10 Days. Mysterious explosions were heard in Brockton, MA, ‘loud explosion’ and ‘sonic boom’ across Nottingham, UK, Ground Shaking, Loud Booms Reported Across Escambia County, Florida. In other words, reflections from the treads of the staircase are responsible for the echo being altered. 0:00. Coronavirus Experiences: My Covid Experience, List of Sky Quakes reports from 1934 to 2019, Video list of Strange Sounds in the sky 2008-2015. Chichen Itza is a Maya ruin where, besides the famous ‘‘ball court,’’1 there is a pyramid ~El Castillo! Fragmented pockets of their population have already been extirpated, and their future as a whole remains uncertain. Close. © 2021 Atlas Obscura. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Offer subject to change without notice. The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza is one of the seven new wonders of the world. In addition to its acoustic marvel, the pyramid also puts on a biannual light show. What is very interesting is that the chirped echo sounds arguably like the primary call of the Mayan sacred bird, the resplendent Quetzal. The song of a sacred bird echoes up the stairs if you clap your hands. It’s one of the most spectacular (i did prefer Kalakmul) and the most frequently visited Mayan site in Mexico. "The quetzal bird had a semi-sacredness to the Maya, but more for its colorful feathers," he says. Acoustic and bird experts agree that the chirping sound closely resembles that of the quetzal, a majestic bird worshiped by the Mayans as a “god of the air”, symbol of goodness and light. However, the Diario de Yucatan has reported that Yucatan’s culture and tourism authority expects the spectacles to return to Chichén Itzá and Uxmal next February. Sadly for the quetzal, increasing habitat loss and illegal trafficking is threatening the magnificent species. It’s unclear whether the Maya intentionally crafted the pyramid with such an effect in mind. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Ancient Mayan Music / Tsompantli It would appear that Sound was deliberately built into a lot of Mayan architecture. - See 25,242 traveler reviews, 28,971 candid photos, and great deals for Chichen Itza, Mexico, at Tripadvisor. The echo imitates the sound of the quetzal, a sacred bird to the Maya. When you clap your hands in front of Chichen Itza stairs, the echo sounds like a Quetzal bird. teaching Nate how to get the Pyramid to chirp back at us. The chirp and rasping whisper of an echo were believed to be the voice of the god. Chichén Itzá: El Castillo (north) - The steps representing the days in a year, Chichén Itzá: El Castillo (north) - The panels representing the years in the Maya sacred circle. According to some acoustic specialists, it mirrors the call of the resplendent quetzal, a gorgeous bird cloaked in an opulent array of green and red feathers. El Castillo, Chichen Itza The echo from the staircase disorts the sound, creating a chirp like a bird, maybe even the sacred quetzal bird. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2021. Share this: ... How they knew how to do this we may never know? Whether the pyramid was constructed to deliberately make this noise, or it happened by chance, is still a matter of debate among scientists and archaeologists. Like the snake, the quetzal was considered divine by the Maya. The present work describes precise diffraction simulations and attempts to answer the critical question what physical effects cause the formation of the chirp echo. The time between later reflections is longer than early reflections causing the frequency of the echo to rapidly drop by about an octave. The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza is just another Maya architectural wonder that even chirps! The reason that a chirp like a bird is produced is because of the geometry. Clap hands to hear the Quetzal bird. The royalty of the Mayans used the feathers of this bird for their finery. The Quetzal was venered by Maya and archeologists believe the Kukulkan Pyramid Chichen-Itza has been built to sound like the bird. Posts about Quetzal BIrd written by jcalberta. Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air. Scientists have shown how sound waves ricochetting around the tired steps of the El Castillo pyramid create sounds that mimic the sound of the Mexican quetzal bird, a sacred animal in Mayan culture. Known for its vibrant plumage, the resplendent quetzal was revered by the Maya and associated with the feathered serpent deity Kukulkan, to whom its namesake temple is dedicated. When a clapping noise rings out, the temple’s high and narrow limestone steps act as separate sound scatterers, bouncing back a chirp-like tone that declines in frequency. that produces a sound echo, in response to a handclap, which sounds like the chirp of a Quetzal bird. Clap your hands at the base of the stairs, and an echo will ring through the air. save. Every equinox, an enormous snake born from the shadows slithers down the side of the Temple of Kukulcan. The Mayans engineered the acoustics of the Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza to chirp like the Quetzal bird – but only when you are standing directly in line with the stairs. Second Largest Ancient Giant Tomb Of First Chinese Emperor’s Grandmother Discovered in Shaanxi, Creepy Death Whistle! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Amazing! Some argue they did in fact begin building the stone behemoth knowing its tiered stairs would manipulate sounds and let it sing the song of their sacred bird. See. … To learn more or withdraw consent, please visit our cookie policy. According to some acoustic specialists, it mirrors the call of the resplendent quetzal, a gorgeous bird cloaked in an opulent array of green and red feathers. Follow Strange Sounds to discover amazing, weird and unexpected phenomena around the world. How they knew how to do this we may never know? The song of a sacred bird echoes up the stairs if you clap your hands. But for now, I want to focus on the Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza (Mayan ruin). Posted by 4 months ago. Fullscreen. Others speculate they stumbled upon the acoustic marvel by accident, then later tweaked the architecture to enhance the effect. 0:00. No purchase necessary. No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. That's right, a stone temple … Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. A magical sinkhole on the Yucatan peninsula adorned with mini waterfalls and hanging vines. Light-and-sound shows in Yucatán were canceled in March due to the COVID-19 -pandemic. Its tail feathers adorned the headdresses of many a noble (no birds died during the creation of the headdresses, as killing a sacred quetzal was forbidden). Anyone having foretelling election dreams ? 95% Upvoted. 80.1k. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. All rights reserved. The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza were part of the Maya civilization. hide. An important Mayan religious and trading center dating back to 200 BC. He believes Lubman may be overstating the relevance of the quetzal to the temple at Chichen Itza. The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels. It also uses physics to make bird calls. Three small rooms in the jungle house the most elaborate and intact murals of the Mayan world. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels. Should the species perish, their song will still linger within the jungle, thanks to the eerie chirps echoing up the stairs of the Temple of Kukulcan. […] death whistle was also used as a noisemaker in ceremonies — terrifying ceremonies, […], […] is well-known that special sound is associated with the sacred. Kukulkan Temple, at the Chichen Itza archaelogical site in Mexico, isn't just an impressive architectural achievement. report. 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