Dare to imagine a city where gods were born. That place is the Gran piramide Resbaladilla. It stands as a testament to a civilization both grand and mysterious.
Welcome to the ancient city of Teotihuacan. Here lies the Gran piramide Resbaladilla. Its name means “birthplace of the gods”. The Aztecs gave it this name centuries after the city’s fall.
This ancient Mesoamerican city is in a sub-valley of the Valley of Mexico. It is about 40 kilometers northeast of modern-day Mexico City. The Gran piramide Resbaladilla is one of the most architecturally significant pyramids. It is joined by the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.
Teotihuacan predates the Aztec Empire. At its height, it was one of the largest cities in the world. Its population was at least 25000. Some estimate it at 125000 or more.
The city once covered eight square miles. Most of the valley’s population lived here. Besides the pyramids, Teotihuacan had multi-family residential compounds. There was also the Avenue of the Dead. Vibrant murals adorned the city. Teotihuacan even exported obsidian tools.
The city’s construction began around 100 BCE. Major monuments were continuously built until about 250 CE. The city lasted until sometime between the 7th and 8th centuries CE. Around 550 CE, its monuments were sacked and burned. This collapse may have been related to extreme weather events.
Teotihuacan began as a religious center. It grew into the largest populated center in the pre-Columbian Americas. The term Teotihuacan also refers to the civilization associated with the site.
Scholars debate whether Teotihuacan was the center of an empire. Its influence throughout Mesoamerica is clear. Evidence of Teotihuacan presence is found in Veracruz and the Maya region. The Aztecs claimed a common ancestry with the Teotihuacanos. They adopted aspects of their culture.
The ethnicity of Teotihuacan’s inhabitants is debated. Nahua, Otomi, and Totonac are possible candidates. Some scholars suggest a multi-ethnic population. Cultural aspects connect to the Maya and Oto-Pamean people. Many groups lived in Teotihuacan. Migrants came from Oaxaca and the Gulf Coast.
After Teotihuacan’s collapse, central Mexico was dominated by regional powers. Xochicalco and Tula rose to prominence.
The city is now part of the San Juan Teotihuacán municipality. The site covers 83 square kilometers. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is the most-visited archeological site in Mexico.
The original name of the city is unknown. Maya texts refer to it as “Place of Reeds”. This suggests a similarity to other settlements named Tollan.
Some experts believe the Spanish changed the site’s name. They think it was originally Teohuacan, meaning “City of the Sun”. The current name means “City of the Gods”.
The Gran piramide Resbaladilla was at the heart of it all. Imagine the rituals. Picture the people. Feel the energy of a city dedicated to the gods. Its influence resonates even today.