Teotihuacán is an ancient pre-Hispanic city located in Mexico, exactly north of Mexico City. Currently converted into an archaeological zone, it is one of the most important not only in Mexico but in all of America and over the years it has positioned itself as an impeccable sample of Mesoamerican architecture, capable of wowing its visitors with its imposing pyramids, beautiful murals, sculptures and various museums that allow us to explore the history of the city.
Known as “City of the Gods” for the Nahuatl translation: Teōtihuácān (or also Teo uacan which in Nahuatl means ‘City of the Sun’), this urban centre was, during its golden age, one of the largest in the ancient world and exercised a great influence on other cities, especially regarding political and religious issues, which increases its historical and archaeological value. Recognized by UNESCO in 1987, when it was declared a World Heritage Site.
Built in the 10th century BC by a Mesoamerican civilization different from the Mayans or the Aztecs, called Teotihuacanos. In this 264-hectare citadel there are numerous monuments and architectural structures, so we will need at least a full day for a complete tour, although we can condense the visit into the main points of interest, among which the following stand out:
The causeway of the dead: It was the axis or the main road of the city that communicated the palace with the pyramids and reaches 4 kilometres in length. It was baptized with that name by the Aztecs who believed that the buildings located on the sides were tombs. It is aligned 16 degrees northwest and is believed to have been so positioned to align with the sun on a specific date.
The Citadel: Named like this by the Spanish in the 16th century who believed that it was a military building. This 400-meter quadrangular platform is located in the western area of the causeway of the dead and it is believed that it was probably used for ceremonies. It is accessed by a staircase located on the west side that overlooks the causeway of the dead.
In this complex we can also find a public square with a central altar and a temple called the South Building, in addition to the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, one of the most important gods of Mesoamerican culture, whose name means in Nahuatl (the language of the Aztecs) ” Feathered Serpent”. It is a 7-level building whose facade is decorated with feathered serpent sculptures that alternate with sculptures of the God Tláloc (The Aztec god of rain).
Pyramid of the Sun: This structure is undoubtedly one of the icons within the archaeological zone of Teotihuacán and the most important within the complex, located in the centre of the causeway of the dead, between the pyramid of the moon to the north and the citadel in the south.
Thanks to its 65 meters high, it is the third largest pyramid in the pre-Hispanic world behind Cholula that reaches 66 meters and Tikal that is 70 meters. Therefore, climbing to the top requires a lot of effort, since we will have to climb 260 steps to access the top. An effort that will be worth it, since from there we will have an impressive panoramic view of the moon pyramid and the causeway of the dead.
A curious fact is that this pyramid is aligned in such a way that it indicates exactly the movement of the Sun, from dawn to dusk and the equinoxes. In addition, it indicates the point in the celestial vault where the Pleiades exit.
Pyramid of the Moon: If after climbing to the top of the pyramid of the sun you are willing to climb a little more to enjoy a different view of the causeway of the dead and the entire archaeological site, this is your next destination. Although it is smaller than the pyramid of the sun, since it measures just 45 meters, it will also require some effort, since its steps are a little more vertical than those of the pyramid of the Sun.
Once at the top of the pyramid, you will notice that, as in the Pyramid of the Sun, it seems that there was a temple, which could indicate that its height was greater than it currently is.
It is noteworthy that these pyramids are aligned with the stars, the moon and the sun, which is why many recognize the archaeology astronomy present in the ancient communities of Teotihuacán, because their knowledge in mathematics, astronomy and geometry was perceptively much more ahead of their time.
The alignment of the pyramids, especially those of the sun and the moon, as well as their height reflect the desire for closeness to the heavens and the belief that the universe, the Gods and the energy of the cosmos are still connected in their spaces, resulting this in a great attraction for the public. Therefore, each year hundreds of people from all over the world venture into the unknown with the firm purpose of recharging their spiritual energy, cleaning their aura and knowing where the members of such an advanced civilization lived.
As an interesting fact, even today Teotihuacán is considered a mystical space, and every March 21 powerful cosmic forces are concentrated that are distributed in the four cardinal points. This is a date in which many people are encouraged to visit the pyramids, starting from this special moment to release those negative energies and in turn be charged with all the positive cosmic energy, with which they can face a year purified and therefore full of successes. For this they wear white and fasten a red ribbon around their foreheads, this in order to focus the energies that they hope to attract from the sun.
Although we might think that this is all we can see or do in Teotihuacán, let us tell you that after visiting these monuments and structures you will still have a lot to see, since as we had already told you, we can also visit museums such as the Teotihuacan culture and the Teotihuacanos Murals Museum “Beatriz de la Fuente”, the Teotihuacán botanical garden, the Quetzalpapalotl palace or the purification church, among others. On the other hand, if you have a little more budget you can pay for a tour that includes a hot air balloon ride with incredible views and an unmatched perspective. Without a doubt, when visiting this place, you will want to return.
ALFA