teotihuacán

Is Teotihuacan Aztec or Mayan?

The Mayan city in today's Mexico has mysterious origins. It was massive, one of the first great cities of the Western Hemisphere.

What is Teotihuacan known for?

Teotihuacan is well-known for its colorful murals painted on plastered walls. They can be found in the city's many apartment compounds as well as on other buildings identified as palaces and temples.

Was Teotihuacan an Aztec city?

By the time the Aztecs found the city in the 1400s and named it Teotihuacan (meaning “the place where the gods were created”), the city had been abandoned for centuries. Teotihuacan's origins, history, and culture largely remain a mystery.

What did the Aztecs call the city of Teotihuacan?

the place where the gods were createdAn impressive city of 125,000-200,000 inhabitants, by the 6th century, Teotihuacan was the first large metropolis in the Americas. Teotihuacan, as the city is called, is a Náhuatl name that means “the place where the gods were created” and was given by the Aztec centuries after it was abandoned in the 7th century.

How was Teotihuacan destroyed?

Mysteriously, around 600 CE, the major buildings of Teotihuacan were deliberately destroyed by fire, and artworks and religious sculptures were smashed in what must have been a complete changing of the ruling elite.

Which God did the Teotihuacan worship?

Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl are among the most important deities in Teotihuacán. Huehueteotl, the Old God, who was responsible for fire and was worshipped primarily in the private sphere.

Did the Aztecs build pyramids?

Civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca all built pyramids to house their deities, as well as to bury their kings. In many of their great city-states, temple-pyramids formed the center of public life and were the site of holy rituals, including human sacrifice.

What is the difference between Tenochtitlan and Teotihuacan?

Teotihuacan is an ancient city (in ruins) located about 30 miles from Mexico City while Tenochtitlan refers to the capital city of Aztecs (completely demolished by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century) earlier located in the Historic Center of Mexico City.

Is Teotihuacan a wonder of the world?

Today, Teotihuacan is the largest and most famous pre-Colombian complex of Mexico and one of the most wonderful places of the world.

Is there anything left of Tenochtitlan?

Today, the ruins of Tenochtitlan are in the historic center of the Mexican capital. The World Heritage Site of Xochimilco contains what remains of the geography (water, boats, floating gardens) of the Mexica capital.

Why was Tenochtitlan destroyed?

Cortés's army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city. Cortés's victory destroyed the Aztec empire, and the Spanish began to consolidate control over what became the colony of New Spain.

Does Lake Texcoco still exist?

Originally one of the five lakes contained in Anáhuac, or the Valley of Mexico, Texcoco has been drained via channels and a tunnel to the Pánuco River since the early 17th century, until it now occupies only a small area surrounded by salt marshes 2 1/2 mi (4 km) east of Mexico City.

What is the history of Teotihuacan?

Archeological evidence suggests that Teotihuacan was a multi-ethnic city, and while the official languages used by Teotihuacan is unknown, Totonac and Nahua, early forms of which were spoken by the Aztecs, seem to be highly plausible. This apparent regionally diverse population of Teotihuacan can be traced back to a natural disaster that occurred prior to its population boom. At one point in time, Teotihuacan was rivaled by another basin power, Cuicuilco. Both cities, roughly the same size and hubs for trade, both were productive centers of artisans and commerce. Roughly around 100 BC however, the power dynamic changed when Mount Xitle, an active volcano, erupted, and heavily impacted Cuicuilco and the farmland that supported it. It is believed that the later exponential growth of Teotihuacan's population was due to the subsequent migration of those displaced by the eruption. While this eruption is referenced as being the primary cause for the mass exodus, recent advancements of dating have shed light on an even earlier eruption. The eruption of Popocatepetl in the middle of the first century preceded that of Xitle, and is believed to have begun the aforementioned degradation of agricultural lands, and structural damage to the city; Xitle's eruption further instigated the abandonment of Cuicuilco.

Why is Teotihuacan called Teotihuacan?

The term has been glossed as "birthplace of the gods", or "place where gods were born", reflecting Nahua creation myths that were said to occur in Teotihuacan. Nahuatl scholar Thelma D. Sullivan interprets the name as "place of those who have the road of the gods." This is because the Aztecs believed that the gods created the univers e at that site. The name is pronounced [te.oːtiːˈwakaːn] in Nahuatl, with the accent on the syllable wa. By normal Nahuatl orthographic conventions, a written accent would not appear in that position. Both this pronunciation and the Spanish pronunciation [te.otiwaˈkan] are used, and both spellings appear in this article.

What was the largest population in the Basin of Mexico during its occupation?

Human sacrifices found at the foundations of La Ciudadela. Teotihuacan was one of, or was, the largest population in the Basin of Mexico during its occupation. Teotihuacan was a large pre-historic city that underwent massive population growth and sustained it over most of the city's occupancy.

When did the population of Teotihuacan grow?

In the Tzacualli phase (c. 1–150 CE) , Teotihuacan saw a population growth of around 60 to 80 thousand people, most of which are believed to have come from the Mexican basin. Following this growth however the influx of new residence slowed, and evidence suggests that, by the Miccaotli phase, c. 200 CE.

How many square miles is Teotihuacan?

The city covered eight square miles; 80 to 90 percent of the total population of the valley resided in Teotihuacan. Apart from the pyramids, Teotihuacan is also anthropologically significant for its complex, multi-family residential compounds, the Avenue of the Dead, and its vibrant, well-preserved murals.

When was the first human settlement in Mesoamerica?

The first human establishment in the area dates back to 600 BC, and until 200 BCE there were scattered small villages on the site of the future city of Teotihuacan. It is estimated that the total population of the Teotihuacan Valley during this time was approximately 6,000 inhabitants. During the period from 100 BC to 750 AD, Teotihuacan had evolved into a huge urban and administrative center with cultural influences throughout the broader Mesoamerica region.

What does Teohuacan mean?

Archeologist Veronica Ortega of the National Institute of Anthropology and History states that the city appears to have actually been named "Teohuacan", meaning "City of the Sun" rather than "City of the Gods", as the current name suggests.

Where did the Teotihuacan come from?

And its origins are a mystery. It was built by hand more than a thousand years before the swooping arrival of the Nahuatl-speaking Aztec in central Mexico. But it was the Aztec, descending on the abandoned site, no doubt falling awestruck by what they saw, who gave its current name: Teotihuacan.

Why did Teotihuacan collapse?

It's unclear why Teotihuacan collapsed; one theory is that poorer classes carried out an internal uprising against the elite. For Cowgill, who says more studies are needed to understand the lives of the poorer classes that inhabited Teotihuacan, the mystery lies not as much in who built the city or in why it fell.

What was the first civilization in Mesoamerica?

The Olmec civilization, the first in Mesoamerica, offers valuable clues into the development of the rest of the region.</p>. Archaeologists study a colossal Olmec stone head in La Venta, Mexico in this 1947 National Geographic photo. The Olmec civilization, the first in Mesoamerica, offers valuable clues into the development of the rest ...

Does Teotihuacan have a military?

Oddly, Teotihuacan, which contains a massive central road (the Street of the Dead) and buildings including the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon, has no military structures—though experts say the military and cultural wake of Teotihuacan was heavily felt throughout the region.

Why is San Juan Teotihuacá called Pueblo Encantado?

San Juan Teotihuacá n has earned the title of Pueblo Encantado (Enchanted Town) thanks to the preservation of its culture and the integration of the modernity without modifying its historical past.

When is pueblo mágico in Mexico?

If you are planning your visit to this destination, we recommend you to avoid the rainy season that takes place in July and September. This Pueblo Mágico is located in Estado de Mexico, and is only 45 minutes away from the Mexican capital.

Where is Teotihuacan located?

Teotihuacán is only 40 kilometres, or 25 miles, northeast of Mexico City . The Teotihuacán Archaeological Zone is in the town of San Juan Teotihuacán, which is in the federal state of Mexico State ( Central Mexico ). There are a number of highly rated hotels (for a list and to book, see Booking.com) in the town, to suit all budgets.

How to see the ancient city of Teotihuacan?

The best way to experience the ancient city of Teotihuacan – from above. Floating above the pyramids and the avenue of the dead in a hot air balloon will give you a view of the ruined city few others have.

What is the second largest pyramid in Mexico?

Temple of the Moon, the second largest pyramid at Teotihuacán. The profile of the pyramid copies the profile of Cerro Gordo Mountain north of the site. Teotihuacan is one of the finest archaeological sites of pre-Columbian Mexico.

What did the Aztecs name the place where the gods were created?

Teotihuacán has been captivating people for many years. The vast settlement with its stepped pyramids, temples and platforms lining a central ‘avenue of the dead’ so impressed the Aztecs they named it the place where gods were created. We are still intrigued, and archaeologists continue to debate who built this ancient city.

How long does it take to visit Teotihuacan?

The journey out to the archaeological site only takes about an hour, and can be done using public or private transport, but many opt for a day-trip.

What to wear to visit Teotihuacan?

Be aware that temperatures at the site are usually higher than in nearby Mexico City. A sun hat, sun lotion, and sunglasses are advisable, with plenty of water being a must.

Is Teotihuacan open to visitors?

Teotihuacán closed for several months in 2020 but is now open to visitors once again, with only limited restrictions introduced that help keep visitors safe.

Ubicación de Teotihuacán

Teotihuacán estuvo ubicada en el centro de México, en el valle de Teotihuacán, hacia el este del lago Texcoco. Desde ahí extendió su influencia tanto hacia el oeste como hacia el este, hasta la región del Golfo de México.

Organización política y social de los teotihuacanos

El gobierno estaba integrado por élites que tenían el control político, ideológico y religioso. Los gobernantes conformaban una casta sacerdotal. No parece que hubiera existido una forma de poder personalizada y dinástica, ya que no se han encontrado evidencias de culto a la personalidad del rey como en otras culturas.

Economía de los teotihuacanos

La economía de los teotihuacanos se basaba principalmente en la agricultura, la cual practicaban en milpas en las colinas boscosas que rodeaban el valle. Hacia el final de su civilización también realizaron cultivos en terrazas y aparentemente en chinampas.

Manifestaciones artísticas

Los teotihuacanos construyeron enormes palacios y templos sobre basamentos escalonados, con el sistema constructivo de talud y tablero. Muchos de ellos presentan coloridos murales pintados con distintas escenas: representación de dioses, ceremonias, escenas naturalistas con agua, semillas, motivos marinos animales, mariposas, entre otros.

Overview

Name

History

Culture

Archeological site

Threat from development

See also

Further reading

Información general

Teotihuacán arqueológico

Toponimia y terminología

Urbanismo

Arquitectura

Artes

Teotihuacán mítico

Religión