kuhkulkaan

Kukulcan is a Mesoamerican deity, prominent in the Mayan civilization. The name "Kukulcan" translates from Yucatec Mayan to "Feathered Serpent" or "Plumed Serpent." This deity is associated with wind, rain, Venus, merchants, and the arts and crafts. Depictions of Kukulcan often show a serpent adorned with feathers, a common motif throughout Mesoamerican cultures.

The feathered serpent concept appears in various Pre-Columbian cultures, and Kukulcan is the Mayan interpretation. In some Mayan city-states, Kukulcan was revered as a creator god and a god of death and resurrection. He was also linked to rulership and the founding of cities. The El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza is a famous architectural representation of Kukulcan, where shadows during the equinoxes create the illusion of a serpent descending its stairs.

The worship and iconography of Kukulcan influenced Mayan art, architecture, and religious practices. Similar deities, such as the Aztec Quetzalcoatl, share the feathered serpent imagery, indicating a shared cultural heritage or widespread religious influence across Mesoamerica. The exact nature and attributes of Kukulcan varied somewhat among different Mayan groups and historical periods.