The Pyramid of the Moon | Mexico City

The Pyramid of the Moon | Mexico City

The Pyramid of the Moon is the most famous landmark of Teotihuacan, an abandoned city located 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, in the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacan.

It is the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere, its exact age is unknown. Teotihuacan, which means “the place where the gods were born”, is a later name.

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History

Teotihuacan became a regional center in the 2nd century. n. e., and was abandoned in the middle of the 7th century. The Aztecs who came here much later found only majestic ruins. The correct network of streets intersecting at right angles with the city’s central avenue indicates that Teotihuacan developed according to an elaborate plan. Around the center, there were adobe dwellings of ordinary townspeople close to each other, forming separate city quarters, with narrow streets and blank walls of houses. All houses were one-story, with flat roofs and no windows. The only source of air and light was the doors, which necessarily overlooked the inner open courtyard. One of the main (and oldest) buildings in Teotihuacan is the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon (42 meters high).

The famous Pyramid of the Moon is located in the northern part of the famous city. With its contours, the Pyramid resembles an extraordinary structure called Cerro Gordo. According to some Native American dialects, the Pyramid of the Moon meant “mother”, or “protective stone”, which had great power. The Moon Pyramid was erected between 200 and 450 AD. e., with all this completing the bilateral symmetry of the extraordinary temple complex. The colossal structure was intended for ritual sacrifices, both animals and humans.

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Terrifying Facts

In the depths of the pyramid of the Moon, archaeologists have found a burial chamber with the remains of 12 human bodies. All of them had their hands tied behind their backs, but 10 of them were beheaded and thrown in disorder in the middle of the cell. According to one version, these were the enemies of the inhabitants of Teotihuacan. The other two victims appear to have belonged to the local elite, as they were neatly planted and wore jade jewelry, necklaces made of products that mimic human jaws, and other signs of high position.

It is not yet clear why these people were sacrificed, but it is known that the ritual was performed during a significant reconstruction of this ancient building. Apparently, it symbolized the growing religious and political influence of the city-state. This is also evidenced by the center of the chamber, in which a large jade mosaic is set, surrounded by 18 obsidian knives. Nothing like this has been found in Mesoamerica before. Also in the chamber were found the skeletons of five wolves (or coyotes), three skeletons of a cougar or jaguar and 13 remains of eagles. Perhaps these animals were symbols of warriors (military unions).

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Last Words

The pyramid of the moon is entangled in a mass of legends, rumors and speculation. For example, it is not clear why the dead continued to be buried near the pyramid even after the destruction of the city. If earlier scientists believed that the pyramids were built for astronomical observations, were a model of the solar system, or somehow generated energy, then recently hypotheses have been associated with the pyramid about its connection with the Pleiades constellation, from which aliens flew to Earth, giving knowledge to the ancient to the people of Mexico.

If we talk about the stairs of the pyramid, then they lead to the Road of the Dead (translated from Spanish – Calzada de los Muertos). At the top is a small platform that was once used for various ritual ceremonies, possibly in honor of the goddess of the moon and water – Chalchiuhtlicue. Now from here a beautiful view of the ruins of the city opens up.

• Armaan Jain