Unveiling the Secrets of Teotihuacan: Explore the Mysterious Ruins and Ancient Pyramids
Teotihuacan: A Mysterious Archaeological Site
The ruins of huge pyramids and other structures, some of which are still covered in green plants, hide many secrets at this huge archaeological site. It is still not clear why, when Teotihuacan was at the height of its power and grandeur in Central America, it was suddenly left alone to fall apart, and the Aztecs’ Tenochtitlan took over as the most important and powerful city.
Location of Teotihuacan
About 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City is the city of Teotihuacan. So, if you want to go to Mexico City, this is one of the places you have to see.
Rise and Fall of Teotihuacan
Archaeologically, the rise and fall of Teotihuacan roughly match the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, which began around 600 BC and started to fall until it was abandoned and pillaged after about a thousand years of power. During its time of greatest glory, the city had a population of over 200,000 people and a way of running civil life that would never be matched anywhere, not even in Rome.
Unique Murals and Peaceful Society
The murals found at Teotihuacan are unique because they don’t show the systematic violence or sacrifices that are common in Mexico. Instead, they show a peaceful society that seems more interested in astronomy than in terror, and the god Quetzalcoatl, who is shown here as a feathered serpent.
The Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun (Piramide del Sol) is the most impressive building. Most likely, the pyramid of the sun at Teotihuacan was built at the start of the first century BC. It is so big that, at least in width, it is bigger than the pyramid of Cheops. However, it is only about half as tall as the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Alignment with the Sun
This pyramid was built so that at noon on May 19 and July 25, the sun is directly above it. But many people prefer to go on the equinoxes, which are on March 21 and September 23. They do this to try to absorb the energy that, according to tradition, the great pyramid gives off on these days.
The Pyramid of the Moon
The Pyramid of the Moon is another amazing structure. It looks as tall as the Pyramid of the Sun because it was built on an embankment. This pyramid was built a little after the Pyramid of the Sun, maybe at the end of the first century BC.
Panoramic View of Teotihuacan
The best view of Teotihuacan is from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon. From there, you can see the ruins on both sides of the Avenue of the Dead (Avenida de los Muertos), which is almost two kilometers long. From here, it’s easy to see how big this city used to be.
The Templo de Quetzalcoatl
The The Temple of Quetzalcoatl is another one of Teotihuacan’s incredible attractions.. It can be reached directly from the main entrance, which is where the citadel is.
Ancient Structure and Gods
It may not be as pretty as the bigger pyramids, but it is worth taking a walk around the back of the pyramid, where an older building built between the first and third centuries has been found under the facade of a more modern pyramid built after Christ. Many people thought that Tlaloc was the god of rain. The temple has pictures of Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, from which the temple got its name.
Weather and Climate at Teotihuacan
If you want to go to Teotihuacán, you have to think about how the weather is there. In fact, the archaeological site is at an altitude of 2,300 meters.
Temperature and Rainfall
Because of this, the temperature and humidity are much lower than in a typical tropical climate, so the weather is definitely bearable, even if you have to wear a lot of layers. In the spring, the highest temperatures reach around 26–28 °C, but at night, they drop to around 7–9 °C because the soil is dry, which makes it easier for the soil to radiate heat. From June to September, the lows get higher, but the sky can be cloudier because it’s the rainy season.
Thunderstorms tend to happen in the afternoon and evening. In the summer, it can rain more than 100 mm on average each month. In January, the middle of winter, the lows are close to zero degrees, but the highs reach 19–21 degrees.
