Pyramid of the Niches

The Pyramid of the Niches is a structure at the El Tajín archaeological site in Mexico, made of seven stacked platforms. Each outer wall displays small rectangular recesses arranged in horizontal rows, giving the building a textured appearance.

Builders created the structure between the 9th and 12th centuries during the height of Totonac power. The temple served as a religious center and formed the heart of the ancient city of El Tajín before the site was abandoned in the 13th century.

The name derives from Totonac and means mountain of sustenance, pointing to a connection with ancient myths about fertility. Local people still call the site place of thunder because of the frequent storms in the region.

The site is best visited in the morning when the light strikes the recesses in different ways and casts soft shadows. The climb is steep but there are solid steps and ropes to hold along the way.

The facade shows traces of red paint that once covered large parts of the surface and gave the structure a more vivid look. Archaeologists also found impressions of stucco decorations inside the recesses that once carried figurative representations.