Teotihuacan and Mexico City

Teotihuacan is a large archaeological site located about 40 km north of Mexico City. It was built more than 1,000 years before the arrival of the Aztec in central Mexico. But it was the Aztec, descending on the abandoned site, who gave it a name: Teotihuacan, which means "city of the gods."

A total of three pyramids reside at Teotihuacan as do temples, palaces and residential compounds. The city reached its peak around 500 AD when it was the centre of a powerful culture that dominated Mesoamerica. Teotihuacan was abandoned around the year 800 AD however the causes of the fall are not known.

Today Teotihuacan is one of the most visited archaeological attractions in Mexico. In order to make the most of the day, I stayed at the Villa Arqueologica (M$ 700 after a bit of haggling) which is located next to the main entrance. This gave me the opportunity to be on site as soon as the gates opened and well before the day visitors from Mexico-City arrived.

There are five entrances to the archaeological site (51 M$, car 18M$). A full tour of the site can easily fill a whole day. A hire car comes in handy, as it will allow you to visit surrounding palaces and buildings and to re-enter the site at various points.

I was quite impressed by the orderly layout of the city, which is aligned on a north-south axis. This alignment is occupied by the city's main thoroughfare which is called the Avenue of the Dead which extends for some 3km.

The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan and also its major landmark. It is located along the Avenue of the Dead and forms part of a large complex in the heart of the city. The base of the Pyramid of the Sun is 220m long and it stands 66m tall. It is possible to climb this pyramid and if you manage the 250 or so steps you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of Teotihuacan.

At the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead stands the Pyramid of the Moon which was constructed between 200 and 450 AD. The view from its platform is the best to be had on site, looking straight down the Avenue of the Dead. The Plaza of the Moon sits directly in front of the Pyramid of the Moon. It is lined by temples and features a square altar at its centre. Also facing the plaza is the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl which is decorated with interesting reliefs.

At the other end of this avenue lies the Citadel, a large square area featuring various pyramids and structures, with the main feature being the Temple of Quetzacotl. This temple is decorated with sculptures of feathered serpents.

There are a number of smaller plazas, courtyards and other palaces to explore at Teotihuacan, including Tepantitla, Tetitla and Ateltelco which all feature beautiful murals. These former palaces and homes are located outside the ring-fenced central area of Teotihuacan.

After 200 years of excavations and research, archaeologists are in the dark about who built the city, which at its peak is believed to have housed 100,000 people, rivalling Shakespeare's London, but a millennium earlier.
Sue Chan, Mysteries Of The Pyramid Of The Moon, September 2002

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