Venus was one the representations of the serpent god Kukulcan. It is believed that the platform may have been used for religous ceremonies in honor of this important diety. In the sunken spaces Kukulcán, in his role of Venus the morning star, appears with forked tongue and jaguar- like claws to be coming out of the jaws of the plumed serpent. The stairways on each side of the platform are guarded by images of feathered serpents.

To the Maya, the planet Venus was both a heavenly body in their astronomical measurements and a mystical element in their mythology. Its importance can be seen in the care with which the sunrise is represented in this monument. The cycle of the planet was one of the basic elements used to establish a calendar for both public and ritual functions.

This platform, more than 25 metres on each side, is also known as the Tomb of Chac-Mool, a name given to it by the archeologist who uncovered the first statue of this god in Chichen ltza in the late 19th century. Chac-Mool, whose real name and meaning is still unknown, probably came from Toltec imagery, since similar idols have been found in Tula and other cities of central Mexico.