Teotihuacan, Archaeological site in Teotihuacán de Arista, Mexico
Description
Teotihuacan is an archaeological zone in the State of Mexico covering 83 square kilometers with three large pyramids arranged along the Avenue of the Dead, which runs two kilometers from north to south. The Moon Pyramid stands at the northern end, while the Sun Pyramid is the largest structure on the site, surrounded by residential compounds with numerous rooms, sophisticated drainage systems, and frescoes on the walls of many chambers.
History
Between 100 BCE and 550 CE, the city grew into the sixth largest urban settlement in the world with over 150,000 inhabitants. Construction of the Sun Pyramid began around 100 CE and required enormous labor resources over several generations, before the city experienced a decline after 750 CE, with the exact causes still debated today.
Culture
Wall paintings inside the buildings show religious processions, trade goods, and figures from myth that reveal a wide network of beliefs and exchange throughout Mesoamerica. People from different origins lived in ethnically organized neighborhoods, forming a mixed population where workshops for obsidian and ceramics produced goods shipped to distant regions.
Practical
The site is managed daily by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia from 9 AM to 5 PM, with guided tours available in multiple languages. Visitors should bring sun protection and water as most of the terrain remains exposed, and the onsite museum displays artifacts recovered from the excavations.
Did you know?
Acoustic tests show that clapping in front of the Moon Pyramid produces echoes mimicking animal sounds, possibly indicating intentional architectural planning. Archaeologists discovered a sealed tunnel beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in 2003, which contained miniature landscapes and pools of mercury after being closed for centuries.
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9 m
Pyramid of the Moon
790 m
Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan
1.2 km
Pyramids of Teotihuacan
293 m
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Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana
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Amazing history and sights! Love the overall vibe!
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