Teotihuacan
Location
About
An enormous ancient city northeast of Mexico City, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas and one of the largest in the world at its peak (population 125,000-200,000 around 500 CE). The Avenue of the Dead, lined with the Pyramid of the Sun (third largest pyramid on earth), the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, makes it the supreme monument of Mesoamerican civilization.
Significance
Teotihuacan was the cultural and religious metropolis of Mesoamerica — the city that defined architectural, artistic, and calendrical traditions adopted by subsequent cultures including the Aztec, who called it 'the place where men become gods.' The name Teotihuacan itself is Aztec, not from the original language (still unknown). The city's grid plan, astronomical alignments, and monumental architecture represent the most ambitious urban achievement in pre-Columbian America.
History & Historical Arc
Teotihuacan was founded around 200 BCE and grew rapidly. At its peak (300-550 CE) it covered 83 km² and was connected to…
Archaeological Notes
The Pyramid of the Sun (65m tall) is aligned to the setting position of the Pleiades star cluster. The Temple of the Fea…
Key Features & Structures
- Pyramid of the Sun (third largest pyramid globally)
- Pyramid of the Moon
Visitor Information
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Open daily. 50 km from Mexico City. Climb pyramids (Pyramid of Moon restricted). Arrive earl…
Related Figures
Source References
- Sahagún, Florentine Codex 7.2 (Aztec account)
- Millon, Urbanization at Teotihuacan (1973)