This week (with the help of Google Maps), we will be journeying to Teotihuacan to explore its pyramids—the Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun. Little is definitively known about Teotihuacan’s past. However, as we have seen in previous posts, it is possible to speculate based on evidence and what is known about other architectural sites and similar cultures.
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| Teotihuacan Source: https://maps.google.ca |
The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan and the
third largest pyramid in the world. Located on the Avenue of the Dead between
the Pyramid of the Moon and Ciudadela, it sits in the middle of Teotihuacan. Unfortunately,
some features of the pyramid have not survived to the present day. An altar
used to sit on top—this suggests that the Pyramid of the Sun may have venerated
a deity, however without the altar (or the illustrations that used to adorn the
entire pyramid) there is no way to know which deity (if any at all) the pyramid
was built for. The pyramid of the Sun is oriented in a way that allows some
astrological events to be visible from the pyramid; specifically, events that
would be particularly important to agricultural practices and belief systems of
the time. Upon recent excavation, chambers underneath the Pyramid of the Sun
have also been found. It is possible that there may have been a tomb within
these chambers however this cannot be known for certain.
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| Pyramid of the Sun Source: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/pyrami d-of-the-sun--teotihuacan-juergen-weiss.html |
The Pyramid of the Moon is the second largest building in Teotihuacan. The
pyramid was built in several “renovation” stages—at least 6, each stage
building upon the original structure. It is thought that the pyramid was at one
time mounted with a stone figure of the Great Goddess. Two tombs have been
found within the pyramid, one containing four people (and religious offerings)
and one created for the Great Goddess (containing sacrifices including a man,
puma, and a serpent). Each of these tombs can be linked to a different era and
stage of renovation, the tomb of the Goddess pre-dating the later dedication.
The Pyramid of the Moon is unique in that it mimics the contours of Cerro Gordo
(a nearby mountain).
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| Pyramid of the Moon Source: http://topworldtourism.com/201 2/10/teotihuacan-mexico/ |
The Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon have much in common and can provide
us with clues as to their purpose and place in life at Teotihuacan. The sheer
size of the Pyramids as well as their location in the complex indicates their
importance. As described above, both could have had religious functions. The
pyramid of the Moon was used as a tomb; it is possible that the Pyramid of the
Sun was used as a tomb as well based on the network of chambers found beneath. The
Pyramid of the Moon was built to mirror the natural form of Cerro Gordo; even
more impressively, the Pyramid of the Sun was built with an awareness of
astrological patterns and events. Though many things are uncertain, both
pyramids definitively demonstrate that the people of Teotihuacan were
exceptionally connected to their environment.
Live Science. “Teotihuacan: Ancient City of Pyramids.” Accessed February
4, 2013. http://www.livescience.com/22545-teotihuacan.html
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Teotihuacan.” Accessed February 4, 2013.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/teot/hd_teot.htm
UNESCO. “Pre-Hispanic
City of Teotihuacan.” Accessed February 4, 2013. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/414
Roth,
Leland M. Understanding Architecture: Its
Elements, History, and Meaning. Colorado: Westview Press, 2007.
