Pyramid Of The Sun At Teotihuacan Mexico
The Pyramid of the Sun God
Teotihuacan Mexico
The pyramid's summit was built aligned with the horizon to serve as a natural marker of the sun's position during the quarter-hour of the Aztec day The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan and one of the largest structures in Mesoamerica Built atop a sacred cave as described in the excavations above the Pyramid of the Sun became the focal point of society The cave directly beneath the pyramid six meters below the center of the structure was originally believed to be a naturally formed lava tube
Considered the site of Chicomoštok the birthplace of humans according to Nava legend recent excavations suggest the site was man-made and possibly used as a cemetery Built around 200 AD it is located along the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramids of the Moon This cave symbolizes creation life and is also central to Mesoamerican religious history The pottery and dishes were likely placed there centuries after the natural tunnels were converted into shrines. Given the pyramid's position above the cave and the absence of skeletal remains and charcoal in the cave due to ancient destruction it is impossible to date the site's use for ritual or transitional rites
Xochipilli, the Aztec god of art and music
A unique historical artifact discovered near the base of the pyramid in the late 19th century is the Teotihuacan Ocelot which is now in the collection of the British Museum. Few artifacts have been found in and around the pyramid Obsidian arrowheads and human figures have been found within the pyramid and similar objects have been found at the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent in nearby Ciudadela These objects may represent sacrificial victims
Incensario Lid Teotihuacan style / 400–700 CE Brooklyn Museum
Many gods and deities were associated with caves such as Tepeyolotl the god of the Earth and Siutekutli the god of fire who were believed to call the caves at the center of the Earth their abode Numerous archaeological investigations have concluded that these caves were sacred to the Teotihuacan people just as caves have held transnational cultural significance in Mesoamerica The ancient Teotihuacans decorated their pyramids with lime imported from the surrounding area
The pyramids were painted with vibrant murals Although the pyramids have survived for centuries the paint and lime are now extinct The tunnel system beneath the Pyramid of the Sun is now a system of tunnels. Although some of the tunnels were built after the fall of Teotihuacan and the Aztecs the name Pyramid of the Sun comes from the Aztecs who visited Teotihuacan centuries after its abandonment. The exact name given to this pyramid by the Teotihuacans is unknown
