The Pyramids of Teotihuacan, Mexico

Teotihuacan is a fascinating Mesoamerican archaeological site, located roughly 40 kms from Mexico city. The name Teotihuacan means "The Place where Men became Gods" or "The Place where Gods were born". The name was given to the city by the Aztecs when they discovered it centuries after it had been abandoned at around 550 CE.

The origins of Teotihuacan are lost in remote antiquity. Scholars believe that the city was established at around 100 BCE, but it could be far older than that. The city was destroyed and burned down in 550 CE, possibly due to a volcanic eruption, and by the time the Aztecs found it the city was already in ruins. The ethnicity of the inhabitants of Teotihuacan are not known.

I had visited Teotihuacan in 2009, in course of a long journey through some of the most fascinating archaeological sites of Mexico. Teotihuacan was probably the most intriguing and spectacular of all the places I had seen in Mexico. Its vast dimensions and grand layout speaks of a time long past, when the ancients modeled their cities and palaces following the map of the heavens.

Standing in front of the Pyramid of the Moon

The Pyramid of the Moon is nearly 140 feet high. Originally a Temple stood on top of the pyramid.

The climb up is a more difficult than it looks. The steps are high and the incline is somewhat steep.

The view from the Pyramid of Moon, down the Avenue of the Dead. On the left is the massive Pyramid of the Sun. In the center of the square probably stood a temple.

These stepped-pyramids were built all along the long Avenue of the Dead that runs through Teotihuacan.

The Avenue of the Dead

The Pyramid of the Sun. Its base perimeter is nearly the same as the Great Pyramid of Giza, but its height is half of the Giza Pyramid.

 

Oh well, that's me striking a pose in front of the Pyramid of the Sun.

Yes, I climbed to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun! It took some effort, but definitely worth it. This is a view of the square in front of the Pyramid of the Sun.

The grand view of the Pyramid of the Moon in the distance

The Palace of Quetzalpapalotl - the bird deity.

This is Quetzalpapalotl - a combination of the quetzal bird and a butterly - which the people venerated. Some believe it represents “Spearthrower Owl” - an important military god at Teotihuacan.