![]() ![]() Based on archaeological research, construction of Kukulcán was based on the concept of axis mundi. The last construction probably took place between 900–1000 AD, while the substructure may have been constructed earlier, between 600–800 AD. The construction of Kukulcán ("El Templo"), like other Mesoamerican temples, likely reflected the common practice by the Maya of executing several phases of construction for their temples. The square base measures 55.3 m (181 ft) across. The structure is 24 m (79 ft) high, plus an additional 6 m (20 ft) for the temple at the top. That number is equal to the number of days of the Haab' year and likely is significantly related to rituals. Īll four sides of the temple have approximately 91 steps which, when added together and including the temple platform on top as the final "step", may produce a total of 365 steps (the steps on the south side of the temple are eroded). Technically, the clapping noise rings out and scatters against the temple's high and narrow limestone steps, producing a chirp-like tone that declines in frequency. The researchers argue that this phenomenon is not accidental, that the builders of this temple felt divinely rewarded by the echoing effect of this structure. Scientific research led since 1998 suggests that the temple mimics the chirping sound of the quetzal bird when humans clap their hands around it. To contemporary visitors, the event has been very popular and is witnessed by thousands at the spring equinox, but it is not known whether the phenomenon is a result of a purposeful design since the light-and-shadow effect can be observed without major changes during several weeks near the equinoxes. Around the spring and autumn equinoxes, the late afternoon sun strikes off the northwest corner of the temple and casts a series of triangular shadows against the northwest balustrade, creating the illusion of the feathered serpent "crawling" down the temple. Sculptures of plumed serpents run down the sides of the northern balustrade. The temple consists of a series of square terraces with stairways up each of the four sides to the temple on top. It has a substructure that likely was constructed several centuries earlier for the same purpose. The temple building is more formally designated by archaeologists as Chichen Itza Structure 5B18.īuilt by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries AD, the building served as a temple to the deity Kukulcán, the Yucatec Maya Feathered Serpent deity closely related to Quetzalcoatl, a deity known to the Aztecs and other central Mexican cultures of the Postclassic period. An enlargement of the safe zone requires a new style and method of command.Location of El Castillo, Chichen Itza in MexicoĮl templo, known as the Temple of Kukulcán (or also just as Kukulcán), is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the center of the Chichen Itza archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatán. The defence minister, Igor Sergeyev, says bleakly that “the situation in Chechnya has seriously changed of late. He and others have publicly blamed their colleagues among the Interior Ministry's forces who are supposed to deal with the conquered areas-where rebels seem most adept at hiding. But the commander-in-chief of the operation, General Viktor Kazantsev, said on January 10th that they had merely been assigned “additional duties”. On January 8th, Mr Putin announced the replacement of two commanders, General Vladimir Shamanov and General Gennady Troshev. The question now is how Mr Putin and his generals will react. The Soldiers' Mothers' Committee in Moscow, an anti-conscription group, says official figures are at least four times too low.Īt any rate, Russian enthusiasm for the war is ebbing. The Defence Ministry's figure for its own losses refers only to recovered and identified bodies, meaning that it is bound to be an underestimate. Russia's Interior Ministry says its troops have suffered dozens of casualties in recent days, but declines to give a total figure for the war. Meanwhile, Russian troops have encircled but not yet taken Vedeno, the largest town in Chechnya still wholly in Chechen hands.Īccounts of losses differ wildly (see table). But the fighting is an ominous echo of the previous Chechen war, in which Russia conquered the country at great cost, only to lose control of it again soon afterwards. Some Russian generals deny that any significant attacks took place others say that the Chechens were repelled with heavy casualties. ![]() On January 9th, they ambushed a supply column. In the area between Grozny and the southern mountains, Chechen rebels have been able in the past few days to mount raids on towns such as Argun and Shali that had previously been captured by the Russians. ![]()
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