17 
The pyramid, and the temple facing north on its upper plat- 
form, are not precisely oriented with respect to the cardinal 
points of the compass. There is a slight deviation east of 
north. In the light of the known competence of the Maya 
astronomers, could it have been purposeful and be related to 
some recurring celestial phenomenon not yet correlated with 
this deviation? 
On revisiting the Castillo early the following morning, I 
could not help but notice the sharply defined triangular shadows 
cast by the west ’’rail" or balustrade of the north stairway 
across the terraces of the pyramid by the rising sun. The 
thought flashed to mind that they may well bear some relation 
to the passage of time perhaps as may have been marked on the 
former stucco facing of the terrace panels. Could the Castillo 
also have functioned as a monumental sundial--an astronomical 
clock? It is conceivable that the Mayas built into that great 
pyramid more practical usefulness than the symbolism that the 
archaeologists have so far turned up. 
~k 
The scale model of the Chichdn Itzd Castillo gracing the Museum 1 s 
Hall of Latin American Archeology is not quite true to life. The 
sides of its stairways are truly parallel, not farther apart at 
the top than at the bottom; and there are 90 steps instead of the 
91 on the original. 
Chichen Itza, in its entirety, is so vast that no one book, 
and there are many, can ever completely encompass its history, 
