Legends, Legacy, and the Enduring Allure of Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan, an ancient Mexican city, holds mysteries. Once a powerful civilization, its true name is lost. Legends say it birthed the sun. Explore its towering pyramids, unearthed artifacts, and whispers of the past waiting to be revealed.
Teotihuacan is one of the most important and enigmatic archaeological sites of pre-Hispanic Mexico. This city, located in the central highlands of Mexico, was one of the largest urban settlements of antiquity and has become an significant site for research on Mesoamerican cultures. In 1987, it was the first site in Mexico to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, noted for its historical and cultural relevance.
Although its original name is unknown, the Aztecs baptized the site as Teotihuacan, which in Nahuatl means "place where the gods were created". This imposing urban center was known as the cradle of all arts, knowledge, wisdom and religious beliefs. Its historical importance has been recounted by archaeologists and anthropologists, who consider it one of the most essential cities in Mesoamerica.
Teotihuacan also stands out for being the place where the Fifth Sun was created. The legend, related in the Chimalpopoca Codex, describes the origin of the sun in which humanity lives. According to the story, the Fifth Sun was born when the gods gathered in Teotihuacan and called him Nahui Ollin (4 Movement). It is said that: "the gods gathered to decide who would be the new sun. Thus, from among them all, a rich and arrogant god, Tecuciztecatl ('Lord of the snails'), volunteered. However, the others agreed that someone else was needed for the ritual, and so they looked to the humble Nanahuatzin ('Full of sores'), a poor and sick god, who accepted the duty without hesitation".
The gods built two pyramids, the pyramid of the sun and the pyramid of the moon, with a sacrificial fire in the middle. In this place, a ritual took place in which the gods had to throw themselves into the fire to give birth to the Fifth Sun. Although Tecuciztecatl was the first one chosen, he could not throw himself in his first opportunities. Then, Nanahuatzin was asked to do it, and he did it without hesitation. Flooded with shame, Tecuciztecatl finally chose to throw himself.
When the bodies of both gods turned to ashes, Nanahuatzin emerged as the sun and Tecuciztecatl, as the moon.
The history of Teotihuacan has gone through diverse moments, forms and orientations of study. Thus, according to the chronicles of the XVI century, Teotihuacan was a place where the leaders of different cities and dynasties met to govern over several towns and chiefdoms. There is much to know about this archaeological zone, however, at present, the city of the Gods stands out for the construction of its pyramids: The Pyramid of the Sun is one of its most emblematic monuments. This impressive building is composed of a pyramid attached to a smaller structure, built in different stages. It has a base of 225 meters, comparable to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, although its height is less, reaching only half the height of the Egyptian pyramid.
Thanks to excavations inside the pyramid it was discovered that it is made by an earlier adobe structure, used as a sanctuary, on top of which the structure we see today was built. Over the years, the Pyramid of the Sun has undergone numerous explorations and restorations, some of which have altered its original form.
The second important building is the Pyramid of the Moon, located north of the Calzada de los Muertos, is the second-largest monument in Teotihuacan. Its base measures 150 by 120 meters, and its height exceeds 45 meters. At the top of this pyramid you can see the city and Cerro Gordo. Like the Pyramid of the Sun, it went through several construction stages, starting with an adobe base in the Patlachique-Tzacualli phase and evolving to the monumental structure that can be seen today.
Today, Teotihuacan is an significant archaeological site in Mexico and continues to be the subject of archaeological and anthropological research. Finds of structures and artifacts, relating to daily life, religion and social organization, verify that the Teotihuacan civilization was one of the most advanced in Mesoamerica. Through ongoing studies, researchers continue to reveal more secrets of this ancient city.
The General Archive of the Nation preserves photographs, documents, books and files that allow us to know the history of Teotihuacan in different periods and from different sources. These documents range from primary sources to academic research. For example, in the Indios collection there is a file from 1630 that mentions Luis de Alva and his appointment as governor of the natives of San Juan Teotihuacan. In the Land collection there is a file from 1718 on the composition of lands in Teotihuacan and another from 1763 on the chieftainship of the time.
In the Inquisition fund there is a file of the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition from 1694 that contains information about Texcoco, San Juan Teotihuacan and Otumba. In addition, there are photographic archives, as in the Fund of Public Instruction and Fine Arts that show Teotihuacan in different times, likewise in the Ignacio Cubas Library-Hemerotheque there are books of research on the city.
Source: Archivo General de la Nación. “El lugar de los dioses.” gob.mx, http://www.gob.mx/agn/es/articulos/el-lugar-de-los-dioses?idiom=es. Accessed 28 June 2024.
