Maya temples used hollow steps to amplify a priest's voice
Maya architects transformed their limestone pyramids into giant megaphones, allowing a single priest to whisper at the summit and be heard by thousands below.
At the height of the 8th century, the city of Tikal was dominated by Temple IV, a 70-meter limestone giant that pierced the jungle canopy. While its height was a display of raw power, its true innovation was acoustic. The temple's steep, hollowed steps and the specific angle of its limestone 'roof comb'—the decorative structure at the top—were designed to reflect and amplify sound waves with startling clarity.
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