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. Anyone having foretelling election dreams ? It sounds like the song of a ghostly flock of birds, a chorus of chirps that crescendos before fading into silence. Every equinox, an enormous snake born from the shadows slithers down the side of the Temple of Kukulcan. Offer subject to change without notice. Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. 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. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The birdsong may be no coincidence. Posted by 4 months ago. 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. No purchase necessary. 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. It’s one of the most spectacular (i did prefer Kalakmul) and the most frequently visited Mayan site in Mexico. 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. More sacred news on Strange Sounds or Steve Quayle. One of the few places where you can take a dip and look at Maya ruins at the same time. It’s unclear whether the Maya intentionally crafted the pyramid with such an effect in mind. How they knew how to do this we may never know? Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. 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. 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 song of a sacred bird echoes up the stairs if you clap your hands. Three small rooms in the jungle house the most elaborate and intact murals of the Mayan world. No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics. When you clap your hands in front of Chichen Itza stairs, the echo sounds like a Quetzal bird. This magnificent bird, now near extinction, has for thousands of years represented the 'spirit of the Maya'. After becoming locally extinct, this esteemed avian now flies free in the forests around the ancient ruins. 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. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Fullscreen. He’d then turn and face the Temple of Warriors and clap again, causing a low rattle to seemingly emit from the rocks. Clap your hands at the base of the stairs, and an echo will ring through the air. One thing is for sure, there are indications that the Chichen Itza Chirp was no accident. 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. © 2021 Atlas Obscura. share. The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels. Others speculate they stumbled upon the acoustic marvel by accident, then later tweaked the architecture to enhance the effect. A magical sinkhole on the Yucatan peninsula adorned with mini waterfalls and hanging vines. But for now, I want to focus on the Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza (Mayan ruin). He believes Lubman may be overstating the relevance of the quetzal to the temple at Chichen Itza. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2021. But the pyramid does more than put on this spectacular light show. Sadly for the quetzal, increasing habitat loss and illegal trafficking is threatening the magnificent species. 80.1k. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. That's right, a stone temple … The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza is one of the seven new wonders of the world. 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). Menu ... Dust in the Wind / Kansas Whirlwind/DustDevil at the Pyramid of Kukulkan/Chichen Itza / Spring Equinox 2019. This is the ancient sacred Mayan city of Itza whose name translates as ‘mouth of the Well of Itza’. 3 2 2. 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. 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). Every equinox this Maya pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show. The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels. The reason that a chirp like a bird is produced is because of the geometry. 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 you clap your hands in front of Chichen Itza stairs, the echo sounds like a Quetzal bird. 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) […]. This “god of the air” was a symbol of goodness and light. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. … Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Play. It was probably during these gatherings that Maya priests or other leaders may have clapped their hands to invoke the quetzal’s call. See. 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. Now, if you stand at the bottom of the steps and clap your hands you get this incredible chirping sound. (16 Votes, average 4.19) Listen to the distorted echoes immediately after each handclap: they sound rather like a chirping bird. […] death whistle was also used as a noisemaker in ceremonies — terrifying ceremonies, […], […] is well-known that special sound is associated with the sacred. Settings. 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). In other words, reflections from the treads of the staircase are responsible for the echo being altered. 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