At Xochicalco, the
best guess about the function of the Observatorio Cave is to commemorate
a mythical place, as the paired staircases that lead into it seem
to indicate a ritual function,
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| It is a cave with a deep,
vertical shaft that is bricked up to prevent it from falling in (and
thus the shaft itself is most likely manmade) and two stairways for access
to the cavern itself. |
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Most scholars agree that the
room seems to have been used by the elite of the city to provide ritual,
though what these
rituals are is uncertain. Most often, they are described as rituals of rebirth
or fertility rituals in which the king or a noble descends into the cavern and "brings
out" the fertility. |
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| This cave is widely known
to people because of the shaft of light that illuminates it one day out
of the year, the summer solstice. |
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But (I would say) it is still
impressive during the rest of the year.
The glow that is off to the left here was the beacon
of the flashlight being used by our guide. Without that, this was just
a cool spotlight in the middle of pitch darkness.
If you know me, you absolutely know what I did next... |
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| I mean, really... wouldn't
you? |
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| Take the stupid water bottle
out of your lap. |
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| Alfredo had been to this
site before, but they never saw someone do this. I get to be "that guy"
and they were quick to be next in line. |
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| Oscar started this way, but
then he struck a truly inspired pose... |
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| Amen, brother! |
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| The various refractions and
reflections result in fairly distinctive shadow outlines at the periphery
of the light circle, but (as interpreted by local custom) the light starts
to pass through you near the center. |
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