Teotihuacan and its Pyramids

The name "Teotihuacan" means "The City of the Gods" or "Birthplace of the Gods" in the Nahuatl language of the Aztex people, reflecting their mythology. According to an Aztec creation myth four great ages preceded the present world and each ended in a catastrophe. Our age is the fifth age and somehow the god Nanahuatl saved this world from destruction and was transformed into the sun. This myth places the creation of this age at the location where Teotihuacan was built.

The Aztecs did not build the city though, taking it over after its somewhat mysterious abandonment around 750 C.E. It appears that the city was sacked and burned, possibly from an internal uprising.

The building of Teotihuacan is also mysterious. The earliest buildings at Teotihuacan date to about 200 B.C.E., and the Pyramid of the Sun was completed by 100 C.E. Teotihuacan has been attributed to the Toltecs, although their civilization flourished years after Teotihuacan. Other civilizations which at least contributed to Teotihuacan are the Olmec and the Tatonac cultures; contemporary Tatonac people actually claiming to have built Teotihuacan.

View from Pyramid of the Moon of the Avenue of the Dead
and the Pyramid of the Sun Beyond
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Teotihuacan was a pretty big city. At its zenith between 150 and 450 C.E. the city housed a population of between 150,000 and 250,000 people. It was the center of a powerful culture that dominated Mesoamerica. The religion of Teotihuacan included worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, and Tlaloc, the Rain god.

Although Quetzalcoatl was a benevolent god, those who worshiped him were generally involved in blood sacrifices. It is believed that sacrifices were made to dedicate each new building upon its completion. Enemy warriors were ritually sacrificed as well as animals believed to have spiritual powers, all so that the city could prosper. Excavations of the pyramids at Teotihuacan revealed human and animal bodies that had been sacrificed many decapitated or with their hearts carved out probably while the victims were still alive. So the people of Teotihuacan were not really a nice lot!

Funeral Mask from Teotihuacan (Stone, Turquoise, Obsidian & Shell)
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They did however produce a large number of interesting artworks, many of which have survived. Unfortunately they did not appear to have a written language, or at least there are no written accounts of their culture except those in Mayan inscriptions describing encounters with Teotihuacan merchants and leaders.

The spectacular stepped pyramids that featured prominently in Mayan and Aztec architecture originated in Teotihuacan. These pyramids, then, may be the greatest legacy of the people of Teotihuacan.

The Pyramid of the Sun was so named by the Aztecs, who discovered the city of Teotihuacan centuries after it was abandoned. There is no record of its original name.

The Pyramid of the Sun is really huge, although it is only the second largest in the New World being somewhat smaller than the Great Pyramid of Cholula. It is only slightly smaller in it base than the Great Pyramid of Giza but it is half of the height of the Egyptian pyramid. Still, the Pyramid of the Sun is pretty spectacular!

Great Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan Aztec Ruins
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The Pyramid of the Sun was constructed in two phases. The first, completed around 100 C.E., produced the basic pyramid. The second round of construction increased its size and added an altar atop of the pyramid. That altar no longer exists, however.

One thing that makes these pyramids so amazing is that they have all these steps on the outside, that you can walk up. Pretty steep too, so no small climb!

Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan
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Pyramid of the Moon
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The Pyramid of the Moon is located at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead, the main axis of the city of Teotihuacan. The pyramid faces south, down the avenue which is lined with pyramidal constructions. The Aztecs believed these to be tombs, inspiring the name of the avenue, although they are now understood to be ceremonial platforms that were topped with temples.

Pyramid on a Landscape, Moon Pyramid, Teotihuacan
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Teotihuacan was constructed with the central avenue leading from the Pyramid of the Moon, past the Pyramid of the Sun and on to the "Citadel" - a large plaza in the center of the city where the Pyramid and Temple of Quetzalcoatl (now only ruins) were located. So the view from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon is pretty spectacular!

Tourists Decending from the Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan.
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Pyramid of the Sun by 3dwaterdesign at Zazzle


Pyramid of the Moon Mug by theHOELstudio at Zazzle


Teotihuacan by teyes143 at Zazzle


Teotihuacan by ilmarteen at Zazzle


Pyramid of the Moon Mousepad by theHOELstudio at Zazzle

Copyright © Jennifer P. Tanabe, 2009.
This page was created on June 28, 2009 and is the property of jptanabe (Jennifer P. Tanabe) and Squidoo, LLC. Please do not copy my material!