Day 33 : Teotihuacán

Teotihuacán (In Nautl, "the place where men became gods"), is an archaeological site located 40 km northeast of Mexico City and is home to some of the largest ancient pyramids in the world. 

According to legend, it was here where the gods gathered to plan the creation of man. 

Wikitravel has a very good and detailed write-up on how to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City Autobuses del Norte, and the journey from the Bus Terminal took exactly an hour each way. 

Teotihuacan was super impressive!  The grounds were so spread out, that it took me 4 hours to complete my visit.

Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it is characterized by the vast size of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, laid out on geometric and symbolic principles.

 

Entering from Gate 1, the 1st significant monument is the Citadel (La Ciudadela), and is said to be the administrative nerve centre of the city.

Behind the Citadel is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (plumed serpents), which consists of seven stepped bodies with “slope and panel” designed walls on all four sides, decorated with plumed serpents, carved in stone.

The building complex making up the city of Teotihuacan is held together by the Avenue of the Dead, the main roadway in the city of Teotihuacan.  It runs in a south-north direction and has an overall length of more than two miles, and connects the Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun, and various buildings. 

It’s northern limit is found at the Plaza of the Moon, while its southernmost end has not yet been explored.  While I was there, there were people still excavating different parts of the site.

At the centre of the Avenue of the Dead, facing east, lies the majestic Pyramid of the Sun.  It is the highest construction in the complex. 

To reach the top, one has to climb a total of 243 steps, split over 5 tiers.  It is said that it’s location at the top is in perfect synchronization with the axis where the sun sets every evening. 

While at the Pyramid of the Sun, one guy’s tattoo of a pair of wings on his back caught my attention.  Turns out he is Alex Nicholson, a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) Fighter, whom is in Mexico to take part in the fight held in Mexico City on November 5th.  Best of luck!

I continued my walk along the Avenue of the Dead towards Pyramid of the Moon.  The Pyramid was strategically built such that as one walk down the avenue and approach the Moon Square, while keeping one’s eyes on the Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid slowly covers the Cerro Gordo (Gordo Hill, located behind the pyramid), and eventually taking its place on the sight, thus representing the “Sacred mountain”.

Although the Pyramid of the Sun stands out because of its size, the Pyramid of the Moon stands out because of the number of beautiful buildings that surround it – particularly with the Pyramid of the Sun in the corner, and view of the entire stretch of the Avenue of the Dead with buildings lined on either side, coupled with the backdrop of hills in the distance. 

Near the Pyramid of the Moon is Palacio Quetzalpapalotl, part of the residential area for priests and rulers, who conducted worship at the temples associated with Pyramid of the Moon. 

The Palacio Quetzalpapalotl is made of up groups of rooms, courtyards and corridors with decorative motifs of butterflies (papalotl) and Tropical Central American birds (quetzales).

I would have loved to see what the complex look like when it was being inhabited and in its full splendour.  The view and rituals associated with the various ceremonies held here must had been awe-inspiring.