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Editor Pick
Exploring Aztec Pyramids Just Outside the City
- October 5, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
airynfaerie from St. Augustine, Florida
In the afternoon of our first full day in Mexico City, we headed about 30 miles north to the ancient Aztec city of Teotihuacan. Home to the third largest pyramid in the world, this city which began as early as 200bc, was amazing to see and learn a little bit about. We began at the southern end of the site known as the Citadel, where apartment buildings and public gathering spaces once existed. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is in this area and we explored around the grounds trying to understand what it must have been like to be here at the city's pinnacle.
From the southern end we made our way north along the Avenue of the Dead, which was the main thoroughfare and stretched for more than 2.5km. From this street one can see how detailed the layout of the city was, as it was divided in symmetrical sections each corresponding to astrological patterns. Some believe that this was to help with their calendar planning in dealing with seasonal farming.
In the center of the Avenue is the massive structure, the Pyramid of the Sun. It looked big even from a far way off, and kept getting larger and more daunting as we approached. It's hard to capture it in a photo, plus adding to it the heat of that afternoon, and the crazy crowds, it made me laugh (but feel a bit more at ease) to see a permanent paramedic stand just outside the main staircase.
The line to go up wrapped around the front and one side of the structure, as the crowd size is controlled by several guards along the staircase. Finally, when it was our turn, we trekked our way skyward and then hung out on the top for a while to people watch and take in the scenery. The way down was just as harrowing and there was still one more pyramid to go...the Pyramid of the Moon.
On the Avenue of the Dead again, there were many things to explore, as there didn't seem to be any regulations on what you could and couldn't climb on, walk on, or crawl through. We saw several little kids going from one structure to the next crawling through the remains of a system of drainage pipes. Some were definitely only suited for people shorter than 2'...but a couple openings looked like I might just about fit - so I tried it out.
After another climb up and down the final pyramid of the Moon, we walked towards the parking lot past a few more structures that showed the amazing advanced plumbing systems of this ancient culture.
This is a complete must-see stop for anyone visiting the Mexico City area!
Open daily from 8am to 6pm
Entrance Fee $51pesos (about $3 USD)
Parking available
Bring lots of water and sunscreen
From journal Tackling the Massive City of Mexico
Editor Pick
The Pyramids of Teotihuacan
- July 31, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
GlobalKen from Dayton, Ohio
These grand pyramids, Pyramid de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon) and the Pyramid del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun), are amazing reminders of a civilization long past. On either end of a long street, Calzada de los Muertos (Street of the Dead), sits the two large pyramids. We were first led to La Ciudadela (the Citadel). We walked through the ruins, where our guide conveyed some of the history of the site. We were shown some paintings that were found in the excavations of the site.
We were then given free time to walk around, climb the pyramids if we so chose, and visit the museum. I opted to skip the smaller Pyramid of the Moon and to attack the Pyramid of the Sun, the third largest pyramid in the world. On the long walk down the Street of the Dead towards the pyramid, I was approached by many vendors trying to sell their wares. They are extremely persistent, so you may need to be a bit more forceful than a gracious.
The stairs to the pyramid were steep and the air thin due to the high altitude, so needless to say, I took my time getting up the steps. There is a railing to hold on to if needed. The climb was definitely worth it for the views of the site that can only be seen at the top.
After my descent, I decided to go take a peek into the museum on-site. The museum was informative and interesting, but after having spent a day at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, I was a bit overloaded on historical information.
From journal A day at theTeotihuacan Pyramids
Editor Pick
Pyramid of the Moon
- April 9, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
becks from Mexico City, Mexico
The small Pyramid of the Moon has long played second fiddle to the humongous Pyramid of the Sun. Although it is only 46m high, it was built on higher ground than the Pyramid of the Sun and therefore the view from the top is from an only marginally lower level. In addition, the view is straight down the Street of the Dead and, of course, includes the Pyramid of the Sun.
The approach to the Pyramid of the Moon at the northern end of the Street of the Dead is via the very elegant Plaza of the Pyramid of the Moon. The plaza is 204 by 137m and on three sides lined by elegant platforms in perfect symmetry. It is thought that the most important religious ceremonies were held here.
In contrast to the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon was periodically enlarged with the present structure dating to around 350 A.D. It has four terraces, with the first three linked with sets of very steep stairs – some railing is available to assist visitors. It is a bit of a scramble to get to the top from the third terrace but the view from the top is magnificent and in my opinion better than the view from the Pyramid of the Sun. As you look straight down the Street of the Dead, you can see the city in its entire symmetrical splendor. From here, it is also obvious that the impressive formal structures lined the central axis and that buildings further away must have been less elaborated.
Although I found the ascent much less tiring than what I recall from climbing the Pyramid of the Sun almost a decade ago, I was still left with the impression that Teotihuacan priests must have had amazing calves. Although it is a very steep climb to the first and largest of the terraces, the lazy and unfit will be happy to hear that the view from here is fine and nearly as good as the view from the top. (On a recent visit, July 2007, it was no longer possible to scale the Pyramid of the Moon past the first level. There is but one thing to do - go climb the higher one!)
Very little is known about the religious ceremonies of the Teotihuacans. Much of modern thought is influenced by the customs and interpretations of the Aztecs. No one really knows which gods where honored on the local pyramids and temples. Similarly, although it is clear that human sacrifices were offered to the gods, the extent remains unknown. Specialists generally assume that it was much less part of the local culture when compared to the slaughtering orgies of say the later Toltecs and Aztecs.
From journal Teotihuacan – Where Men Became Gods
Editor Pick
Pyramid of the Sun
- April 9, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
becks from Mexico City, Mexico
The Pyramid of the Sun is by far the largest structure in Teotihuacan. I scaled it on my fist visit to the site and was quite happy when my friends showed an inclination towards climbing the lower Pyramid of the Moon instead.
Each side of the base is 225-m long, fairly close to the measures of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, but at 65-m high it is much lower. In Mexico, only the pyramid in Cholula is larger, if in a completely ruined state. The core of the pyramid is around 2.5 million tons of adobe. In contrast to most other large pyramids in Mesoamerica this one was built in one phase and not periodically enlarged. The relationship with the sun has always been clear from the orientation 15°30’ east of astronomical north: at noon on May 19 and July 25, the sun is directly above the pyramids. Awaiting sunrise on certain days such as the spring equinox is also popular to tap spiritual energy – wear white for the most powerful effect.
During the 1970s archaeologists discovered by change a tunnel that led to a clover-shaped cavity and several lava caves at the center base of the pyramid. It is thought that the Aztecs must have been aware of this cavity as it correspond to several Aztec believes. Gods lived in caves and at caves direct communication with the gods were possible – the origin of the Nauhatl name Teotihuacan? The presence of a small underground spring also led to the possibility that this may the source of all life and that the pyramid should be associated with Tlaloc, god of storms and fertility. The Aztec also had a habit of storing the flayed skins of some victims in a cavity at the center of pyramids. Archaeologists assume that there must have been many items in the tunnels and cave but that they were raided, quite possibly by the Aztecs.
Back to the exterior, mentally rather than physically as the tunnels are very much off limits to the general public. The pyramid as it appears today is mostly the restoration work of Leopoldo Batres in the early-twentieth century. He expected to find further layers within the pyramid, as was the case elsewhere, and blasted away with dynamite a structure that extended from the south facade. Parts of the remaining structure, resembling stone buttresses can still be seen on the south wall. His dynamite also opened much of the surface of the pyramid to erosion. Batres erroneously added a fifth terrace to the pyramid – the fourth from the bottom is considered the false one.
Scaling the pyramid, especially for those unaccustomed to the high altitude, is hard work. The stairs are steep but handrails are mostly available. On a busy day, it is often like walking up the stairs of a busy subway station. The view from the top is grand but like many other, I prefer the view from the Pyramid of the Moon.
From journal Teotihuacan – Where Men Became Gods
Editor Pick
The Pyramids of Teotihuacan
- March 23, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
rickhowe from Darlington, Maryland
Our plan was to climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan at sunrise on the first day of the new millennium. We had a collection of crystals and Shaman Wands we wanted to recharge.
But first we had to get there. We'd been at Las Hadas in Manzanillo for Christmas, then flew to Guadalajara after Christmas to visit with friends. On December 30, we flew into Mexico City and rented a VW Bug (for five of us, plus luggage!!) to drive up to Teotihuacan (about 50km).
We had booked two rooms at our favorite kind of hotel in Mexico, the Club Med Archaeological Villas. We'd stay at their locations in Uxmal and Chichen-Itza (in the Yucatan) and loved the ambience and the convenient location to the pyramids there.
This Club Med was just as good, if a little bigger. There was great food and small but tidy rooms in a fantastic location. We spent the next day (December 31) touring the pyramids, followed by a wild New Year's Eve party at the Hotel.
On January 1, at about 5:55am, we piled into the VW for the very short drive to the main entrance (on the south side) to the Pyramid park. We managed to wake up a hungover guard who waved us off, saying the park was closed. The sign said the park opened at 6am, and sunrise was scheduled at 6:30am.
We decided to drive around to the entrance on the east side of the park and got the same answer. Then drove about to the north entrance and once again were waved off.
Feeling the pressure of the time (dawn was approaching), we drove back to the main entrance, and this time the guard was waiting for us and waved us in. All we could figure was that all the guards were on the radio with each other, and determined that they were being invaded by a bunch of crazy gringos!
We drove in, parked, and RAN up to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. Now this is a GIANT pyramid, and running up the steps was an effort. But we all made it, recharged our wands and crystals, and spent the early morning enjoying the energy. We were not, by the way, the only ones up there. Two local families had also decided that this day, this morning, this location had special meaning.
The wands work, by the way. One Navaho Healing Wand helped a good friend of our conquer cancer (at least that's what she thinks, and who am I to argue?).
And please don't hesitate to drop me a line with your own observations about this journal/review. I like to see if my advice has value. Email me at rickhowe@aol.com.
From journal Mexico City and the Aztec Pyramids at Teotihuacan