Snake head sculptures are such a common visual at Chichen Itza – like these at the base of The Ossuary’s southern staircase – that they deserve more explanation. They represent Kukulkan, the Mayan snake god. He was known as the War Serpent (Waxaklahun Ubah Kan) during the Classic period (250 – 950 AD). Later he was referred to as the Vision Serpent and acted as a messenger between the ruler and the heavens. Belief of the deity began in Chichen Itza and then spread across Mesoamerica as a religious cult. Some experts believe the origin for the personified version of Kukulkan may represent a Chichen Itza ruler from the 10th century. According to folklore, Kukulkan was capable of flying across the earth and as high as the sun.
