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The ruins of Teotihuacan Pyramids date back to the period between first and seventh century AD. During this time, Teotihuacan was the largest city of Mayan civilization with the huge population of about 2 lac. The city was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1987.The term “Teotihuacan” stands for “Birthplace of Gods”. The Pyramids are situated near Mexico at a distance of about 50 km.
Twin Pyramids of Teotihuacan
There are two main Pyramids of Teotihuacan, namely, Pyramid of Sun and Pyramid of Moon. Pyramid of Sun is the highest among all the pyramids of the city. This structure was built at the time of the day when sun reaches the zenith. The Moon Pyramid, which was built in third century, is exquisitely beautiful. Its height is more than 100 feet. In total there are 12 platforms in this pyramid and a central platform dedicated to religious ceremonies. This portion was also utilized for oil burning. Common people participated in the process of construction of these massive structures.
The Sun Pyramid
Inside Teotihuacan Pyramids
Height of the Sun pyramid was raised from 63 to 215 feet. It is one of the massive structures of Mayan and Aztec civilizations. The two consecutive constructions were done to add new elements such as altar and platform. The pyramid is made of a plaster of lime and beautifully decorated with murals of different colors. But these coating have not survived today. The murals had pictures of wild animals on them. Earlier there was a temple at the top of the pyramid but forces of nature have destroyed it. Both human and animal remains have been found underneath. There is evidence that these were sacrificed to please Gods. This Pyramid is highest in Mesoamerica
The angle of slope of Sun Teotihuacan Pyramid of is about 32 degrees. The perimeter of the base is about 2900 feet. Due to its impressive height, it has become the third largest pyramid of the world. It rests on a man-made cave. The Moon Pyramid is smaller in size to its counterpart. There is a plaza built in front of this pyramid. This plaza is a home to many temples and some famous palaces. One such palace is Quetzapapalotl which is a mythical butterfly.
The tombs of the ruler of Teotihuacan city are buried beneath these two massive structures. Upon excavation, a cave and a number of chambers were found under Sun pyramid. Many of these chambers were used for various rites and rituals related to elements of nature. The caves’ location determined the shape, structure and alignment of the Teotihuacan Pyramids. Upon excavating Moon pyramid, skeletal remains of a man and some animals were found.
The Moon Pyramid
Inside Teotihuacan Pyramids
Next only to Sun Pyramid, the Moon Pyramid is the second largest in Mesoamerica. This pyramid was constructed between 100 and 450 AD. Here, the inhabitants used to do a lot of ritual sacrifices of not only the animals but also of humans. Then these sacrificial bodies were buried under the new pyramid layers that covered existing pyramids. The Moon Pyramid is also famous for the presence of a ceremonial platform which was dedicated to the Great Goddess of Teotihuacan and an altar of this goddess called Plaza of the Moon.
The Pyramids are an example of skilled manpower and excellent technological and architectural advancement of that era. Not only this, exceptional skill in science and engineering are seen from the fact that these colossal structures are made to be perfectly aligned with solar system. Continuous efforts have been made to restore these structures and have led to chance discoveries of the hidden treasures that have, in turn, helped us to know more about the bygone era.
Teotihuacan Pyramids Tickets
The Teotihuacan Pyramids tickets can be purchased on several travel & tour websites such as Tiquets, TripAdvisor, Viator, Yucatantickets, Teotihuacantours, and others. The entrance fee to the place is around $4. For children below 13, the entry is free.
Teotihuacan Pyramids Tours
Most of the sites mentioned in the previous section provide Teotihuacan Pyramids tours from as low as $10 and as high as around $700 and even more. The tours can be to the pyramids alone or can packaged with other sites like Basalica Guadalup Shrine and Frida Kahlo Museum. Hot Air Balloon flights are also available for the Pyramids from Mexican cities of Cancun and Riviera Maya). The tours can be of 1 hour and last a few hours and even a day.
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