Atlantean figures at Tula, Monumental warrior sculptures in Tula, Mexico.
The Atlantean figures are four warriors carved from dark basalt, standing on top of a pyramid and rising about 5 meters (15 feet) high. The sculptures show men in full ceremonial dress, with detailed headdresses and weapons in both hands.
The sculptures were made between the 10th and 12th centuries, when Tula was the capital of the Toltec people. Later they influenced Aztec art, which adopted similar warrior representations.
The warriors all wear a butterfly on the chest, a symbol linked to the Toltec god of war. Each figure holds weapons that show the role fighters played in the old society.
The warriors stand on top of Pyramid B, which you can reach by climbing wide steps. From there you can see the old plaza and the surrounding buildings of the site.
The figures once held up the roof of the temple that stood on the pyramid. Their name Atlanteans refers to this supporting role, not to the sunken land.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
