Gazing upon these colossal stones a thought springs to mind: What tales do they conceal? Here before us stands Teotihuacán. It is not just a collection of stones. It is a whisper from a civilization long gone. This ancient Mesoamerican city lies a mere 40 kilometers northeast of modern Mexico City. Teotihuacán beckons us to explore its mysteries.
Teotihuacán wasn’t erected by the Aztecs. It predates their empire by centuries. The Aztecs even named this city Teotihuacán. They believed it to be the birthplace of the gods. Imagine this city at its zenith. It may have been during the first half of the first millennium. Teotihuacán was the largest city in the Americas. Its population was at least 25000. Some estimates suggest 125000 or more. This made it one of the largest cities in the world at that time.
Covering eight square miles Teotihuacán housed most of the valley’s population. The city is significant for its pyramids. The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon are magnificent. Teotihuacán is also known for its multi-family compounds. Observe the Avenue of the Dead. Note the vibrant murals. Teotihuacán exported obsidian tools. These have been found throughout Mesoamerica. Construction of the city began around 100 BCE. Major monuments were continuously built until 250 CE. The city might have existed until the 7th or 8th centuries. Its major monuments were sacked and burned around 550 CE.
Teotihuacán emerged as a religious center. This occurred on the Mexican Plateau around the first century CE. It grew into the largest and most populated center in the pre-Columbian Americas. Multi-floor apartment compounds housed the large population. The term Teotihuacán refers to the civilization associated with the site.
Whether Teotihuacán was the center of an empire is debated. Its influence throughout Mesoamerica is evident. Evidence of Teotihuacán presence appears in Veracruz and the Maya region. The Aztecs claimed ancestry with the Teotihuacanos. They adopted aspects of their culture. The ethnicity of Teotihuacán’s inhabitants remains uncertain. Nahua Otomi or Totonac groups are possible candidates. Some scholars propose a multi-ethnic society. Cultural connections exist to the Maya and Oto-Pamean people. Different cultural groups resided in Teotihuacán during its power. Migrants arrived from Oaxaca and the Gulf Coast.
After Teotihuacán’s collapse central Mexico saw the rise of regional powers. Xochicalco and Tula became notable. The city and site are in the San Juan Teotihuacán municipality. It is in the State of México. It is approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Mexico City. The site spans 83 square kilometers. UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1987. It is the most visited archeological site in Mexico.
The name Teotihuacán was given by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs. This happened centuries after the city’s fall around 550 CE. The term means birthplace of the gods. It reflects Nahua creation myths. These myths were said to occur in Teotihuacán. Thelma D Sullivan interprets the name as place of those who have the road of the gods. The Aztecs believed the gods created the universe there. The original name of the city is unknown. Maya hieroglyphic texts refer to it as puh or Place of Reeds. This suggests Teotihuacán was a Place of Reeds. It was similar to other Postclassic Central Mexican settlements. These settlements took the name of Tollan.
Experts now suggest the city was named Teohuacan. This might have happened by Spanish colonizers. It would mean City of the Sun rather than City of the Gods. The first settlement dates back to 600 BCE. Until 200 BCE the site consisted of small villages. From 100 BCE to 750 CE Teotihuacán became a large urban center. It had cultural influences throughout Mesoamerica.
Teotihuacán’s history is divided into four periods. Period I saw the development of an urban area. Local farmers coalesced around abundant springs. Period II marked explosive growth. Teotihuacán became Mesoamerica’s largest metropolis. Factors included volcanic eruptions and economic pull. New residents caused a reorganization of housing. Monumental architecture and sculpture emerged. The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon were constructed. Political power shifted from the Temple of the Feathered Serpent.
Period III represented Teotihuacán’s classical period. The city reached its peak influence. Its population was at least 125000. The city contained 2000 buildings. This reconstruction of buildings included covering the Temple of the Feathered Serpent with a plaza. Funeral masks were typical artistic artifacts. Period IV marked the end of Teotihuacán as a major power. Elite housing compounds showed burn marks. Civil strife likely hastened its decline.
Although much remains shrouded in mystery one thing is clear. Teotihuacán stands as a testament to the ingenuity and complexity of the pre-Columbian world.