El Caracol

E173713

El Caracol is an ancient Maya observatory at Chichén Itzá, notable for its circular tower and alignment with astronomical events.

All labels observed (2)

Label Occurrences
El Caracol (observatory) 2
El Caracol canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Maya observatory
archaeological structure
pre-Columbian building
access open to visitors
architecturalStyle Maya architecture
associatedWith Maya astronomy
Maya priests
civilization Maya civilization
conservationStatus preserved ruin
country Mexico
culture Maya
discoveredBy European explorers in 19th century
era Classic period in Mesoamerica
surface form: Classic Maya period

Postclassic Maya period
feature aligned openings
circular ground plan
elevated position
spiral staircase
hasPart circular tower
interior staircase
platform base
stairways
windows
heritageStatus part of UNESCO World Heritage Site Chichén Itzá
languageOfName Spanish
locatedIn Chichén Itzá
Mexico
Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán state
locatedOn raised platform
material stone
nameMeaning The Snail
near Temple of Kukulkan
surface form: El Castillo pyramid
orientation aligned with astronomical events
partOf ceremonial center of Chichén Itzá
region Mesoamerica
researchField Maya studies
archaeoastronomy
shape cylindrical
touristAttraction yes
usedFor astronomical observation
calendrical purposes
observing Venus
observing equinoxes
observing solstices
ritual activities
tracking celestial bodies

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Chichén Itzá hasStructure El Caracol
La Iglesia nearbyStructure El Caracol
this entity surface form: El Caracol (observatory)
Nunnery Complex nearbyStructure El Caracol
this entity surface form: El Caracol (observatory)