The Summer Solstice is a phenomenon that has marked the calendars of ancient cultures for thousands of years.
Ancient Mesoamericans were great astronomers. They observed celestial cycles and astronomical phenomena such as the movements of the sun and the moon, lunar phases, eclipses, and planetary cycles. Their knowledge is represented in the orientation of his buildings and structures, in glyphic texts, and in myths and rituals.
The sun formed a fundamental part of cosmological and religious conceptions. Ancient Mesoamericans established regulation of rainy and dry cycles and developed a solar-based calendar which was central to the economic base of Mesoamerican agricultural societies. Their observations and recording of the dates were important.
For the ancient Mesoamericans, the movement of celestial entities also corresponded to the world of the sacred. This was interpreted as a cyclical movement of the deities.
Furthermore, certain sensorial manifestations of the everyday world were connected to the spiritual world of the deities. They considered the registration of the north and south solstitial ending at both horizons marked the four corners of the world. These were the directional directions. The moment in which the sun reached solstitial steps.
Accordingly, on the Summer Solstice, Mesoamericans considered the sun to be at its peak, higher, brighter, and stronger. Mythologically, it was assumed that there was an abundance of solar energy that positively influenced people, crops, and general well-being. Thus, the land was more fertile. During Summer Solstice, the Sun was considered the continuity of existence. Thus, rituals were connected to this phenomenon.
Below is information about summer solstice sites in Mexico, all ancient sites.
Chichen Itza site
Every summer, at the pyramid of Chichen Itza, in the state of Yucatan, the solstice occurs as one of the most impressive phenomena in the world. In one building called “El Castillo“, by its placement with respect to the sun, the northeast face of the pyramid is completely illuminated for 30 minutes. At Summer Solstice, it is considered as the presence of Kin (Sun) at the closest point to the north.
The southwest section is totally dark. This is a phenomenon of lighting inherited from the Mayas. They aligned the great pyramid of Chichen Itza 20 or 21 degrees to the east.
The phenomenon is appreciated at sunset, giving way to the longest night of the year. The day is approximately 13 hours 25 minutes, while the night of 10 hours and 35 minutes. The presence of the sun then gradually decreases until the autumnal equinox.
At one moment the Sun sets right at the height of the north and east stairs of the pyramid.
According to legend, the Mayan god of the Sun, Kin, on the day of the summer solstice divided the Kukulkán temple in two to announce the longest day of the year. The shadow of Kukulkan appears descending the steps of the pyramid. Kukulkán is the Mayan deity represented by a feathered Mayan serpent. At the moment of the summer solstice the Sun has its maximum displacement or declination to the north and in one or two days will begin its return to the east. For the Maya, this phenomenon marked the beginning of fruit harvesting and harvests.
In modern day, thousands of people arrive to presence this phenomenon and experience the celebrations that include ancient Mayan traditions.
Cholula site
In Cholula, visitors arrive to experience a ceremony at summer solstice.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
It is thought at the Summer Solstice, there is a maximum amount of solar energy and that powerful energy fields are emitted from the Sun with frequency waves that reach Earth. Visitors consider that this energy stimulates all life on Earth.
Monte Alban site
At Monte Alban, in Oaxaca, ancient Mesoamericans built constructions, avenues and plazas oriented toward the cardinal north and south points. They built special observatories to appreciate the zenith passage of the Sun and made daily astronomical observations. Two buildings not aligned to the North-South axis served as astronomical observatories. These are the only two buildings on the whole site not aligned to the North-South axis.
In the pyramid called Edifio P, a dark chamber was constructed inside, such that the chamber was illuminated with a burst of sunlight. Based on their astronomical observations they calculated agricultural cycles, predicted seasonal changes, and determined the beginning of the rainy season. Prophesies were also made.
They also erected a high stela where the shadow decreases to the south at summer solstice. The stela also appears to have served as an astronomical instrument to verify midday. Midday was one of the 4 Mesoamerican subdivisions of a day. This stela contributed to the establishment of their calendar as well.
Teotihuacan site
The site where the pyramids are located at Teotihuacán is linked to the solstices.
The orientation of the buildings of Teotihuacán is related to astronomical phenomena and with cardinal points. This is evidence of the transcendence of the zenith passage of the Sun in Teotihuacán. Certainly, ancient Mesoamericans had astronomical knowledge of calendrical systems.
In Teotihuacán, the observatory was constructed on one side of the Pyramid of the Sun. A cave was constructed with a skylight that allows the Sun to illuminate the interior. Read more about the Pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacán.
Here, Teotihuacáns observed the zenith passage of the Sun. A stele faces a gnomon that functions as a sundial, such that the exact date of the summer solstice is known.
Presently, hundreds of people come to the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacán for summer solstice. Here, they consider that they absorb energy received from the Sun.
Summary
During this astronomical phenomenon, the Earth receives the most sunlight compared to the rest of the year. The Sun enters over the Tropic of Cancer and reaches the northernmost latitude. The inclination of the North Pole towards the Sun is much greater during the summer solstice. Furthermore, the inclination of the Earth in the northern hemisphere makes it closer to the Sun during summer solstice. The amount of light reaches more places than in the rest of the year. Thus, the Summer Solstice is known as the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The date of the summer solstices is variable and changes from year to year.
The summer solstice begins in Mexico on June 20, 2024 at 3:50pm.
Note: In Mexico City, the time of summer solstice is later.
Author: AllMexico.store
FYI
The Archaeological Site of Xochicalco is not a known summer solstice site, yet it has an ancient observatory. Read more about The Archaeological Monuments of Xochicalco.
References
The Yucatan Times Summer solstice in Chichen-Itzá will take place next Sunday, June 20 – The Yucatan Times
