Near to Mexico City stand the ruins of Teotihuacan, the largest city of Mesoamerica in Pre-Columbian times. Orthodox archaeologists are divided concerning the dating of the site, some believing it flourished from 1500 to 1000 BC, and others stating a later period of 100 BC to 700 AD. Other scholars studying the mythology and archaeology of the region suggest that Teotihuacan may be far older. One intriguing matter is that the original name of the place is unknown. Its current name Teotihuacan – the Place of the Gods - was given to it by the Aztecs after the city’s decline and abandonment. Various Mesoamericans before the Aztecs, the Mayans, Zapotecs and Toltecs, were equally mystified by the vast ruins, seeing in them shadowy traces of an even earlier people.

The most striking architectural structure of Teotihuacan is the towering Pyramid of the Sun, a man-made sacred mountain whose original name and function are unknown. From atop this pyramid, whose base is nearly equal in size to the Great Pyramid of Egypt, numerous other pyramids may be seen along the ‘Avenue of the Dead’. There are several unsolved riddles about the Pyramid of the Sun, such as that concerning the one-foot thick sheet of granulated mica which once covered its uppermost level. Removed and sold for profit in the early 1900’s, the mica had been transported from thousands of miles away in South America. How had the great quantity of mica been brought from such a distance and for what purpose had the pyramid been covered with the rare stone? One suggestion is that mica, being an efficient energy conductor, was used as part of a receiving device for long wave-length celestial radiations. The incoming celestial energy would have been collected by the pyramid, whose sacred geometrical design would focus it into the cave beneath the pyramid. This energy, available for use at any time of the year, would be specially concentrated at certain periods during solar and lunar cycles. These specific periods were determined by using astronomical observation structures which exist in different places around the geomantically aligned city of Teotihuacan.

Photo: Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan

More Information on Teotihuacan from Sacred Sites.

Written by  Martin Gray.

“Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan”

'The holy city of Teotihuacan ('the place where the gods were created') is situated some 50 km north-east of Mexico City. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it is characterized by the vast size of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of … Read more...

Written by press. UNESCO

“'City of the Gods'”

"Any appreciation of ancient Meso-America's architectural splendour must begin with Teotihuacán, the City of the Gods. Its two gigantic pyramid temples, dating from about the time of Christ, are the largest and oldest in the Americas and were model… Read more...

Written by press.

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Photo of World Reviewer Staff

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan was a religious centre in the Mexican highlands around 10AD and was built into a larger city over the next two centuries. It's ruins comprise several large layered pyramids and carved stone monuments. Excavations at the 83 square km site have been going on since 1917 and several interesting constructions have been unearthed as well as a wealth of material from every day life in Teotihuacan. At it's height Teotihuacan is thought to have had 60,000 to 80,000 inhabitants.

 
Review posted 8th January 2008 by World Reviewer Staff.

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