BRIEF HISTORY
Occupation of the area began around 500 B.C. and lasted a millennium
until it was abandoned in the sixth century. At its zenith, Teotihuacán
was home to more than 200,000 people, arguably the world's most
populated city at the time.
The founders of the city did not leave a writing system.
By the time the Aztecs
discovered the site, more than six centuries had passed. When the
Aztecs founded Tenochtitlán, they adopted the ruins as a
ceremonial ground and gave the city the grand name Teotihuacán
(meaning 'Place of the Gods').
The Aztecs named the tallest structure the Pyramid of the Sun
because the front wall faces the exact point on the horizon, where
the sun sets at spring and autumn equinoxes. This pyramid is 70
meters (230 feet) high with a 220-meter (720-foot) base. It was
built around A.D. 150. The neutral stone facade belies its former
spectacle: originally it was painted bright red. The smaller Pyramid
of the Moon was built between A.D. 250 and 600.
Another point of interest is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. The facade
features representations of Quetzalcoatl the serpent, a symbol of
fertility and renewal, and heads of Cipactli, the mythical crocodile
who symbolizes time and creation.
The city's foundation are still intact. It was originally divided
into four quarters by two corridors. The north-south avenue is called
Avenida de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead), again named by the
Aztecs who believed (incorrectly) that the buildings were tombs.
Most sacrifices in Teotihuacán were made to Tláloc,
the god of rain, fertility and water.
NEIGHBORS
During the early half of the first millennium, Teotihuacán
was the largest city in Mesoamerica, with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
Teotihuacán traded with other Mesoamerican empires, including
the Maya.
Teotihuacán's ceramics, obsidian crafts, and architecture
are found in distant cities such as Monte
Albán (Oaxaca), Tikal (Guatemala), and Copán (Honduras),
while other cultures' goods and crafts have been uncovered in Teotihuacán
graves and caches. This represents a cross-cultural exchange much
like finding McDonald's Happy Meal toys in a rural village, or Mayan
crafts in a New York boutique.
The city e functioned for centuries until its collapse in the seventh
century. What happened? There is evidence of malnutrition and environmental
neglect in the region, especially the deforestation of nearby hills
which were and still are rich in obsidian (used for ceremonial knives
and figures) and clay deposits, used for ceramics.
CURRENT STATUS
Today the park offers more than a glimmer of its former greatness.
To gain perspective, visit the museum and botanical garden.
The garden is well signed and the museum showcases the ceramics
and sculptures that have been excavated. This is one of the best
museums in the country and admission is included in the entrance
fee. One room contains a miniature representation of the metropolis,
covered by a plexiglas floor. Just walking across this room gives
the visitor an eagle-eye view. Scale models also show how the city
might have looked around 500 A.D.
TEMPLE OF QUETZALCOATL
Archaeologists are warning that the Temple of Quetzalcoatl has
sustained structural damage. Deterioration has been caused by insufficient
drainage to release water the building accumulates during the rainy
season. One solution is to update the original drainage system.
VERNAL EQUINOX
Thousands of pilgrims dressed in white climb the towering Pyramid
of the Sun to pay homage to the first day of spring. These visitors
believe the pyramids hold a special energy on the vernal
equinox that can be transmitted to people. Fashion tip: dress in white.
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