Teotihuacan
“City Abandoned by Giants”
Basin of Mexico
City of Teotihuacan
Classic
Considered one of the most outstanding
periods of change.
More complex socio-political society.
Population increase
Development of large, urban concentrated
centers
Increase in ceremonial and public works
Temples
Altars
Other?
Basin of MexicoGeography and Ecology
A “side pocket” of the Valley of Mexico
small "sub-valley" defined by low ranges of
hills
overlooked by Cerro Gordo volcano (strategic
location)
passage to and from Valley of Mexico
access to obsidian sources
permanent springs
rich, irrigable plain
salt from Lake Texcoco
limestone & clay for pottery
Teotihuacan
Founding of the City
Valley settled as early as 900 B.C., but no large
settlement until 300 B.C.
Pyramid of the Sun finished by roughly 150 BC
Several reasons for population move:
caves which are related to religion and mythology.
humans, sun and moon came from center of the earth.
entrance to the Underworld.
network of caves and tunnels under the Pyramids of the
sun and the moon.
close obsidian resources.
nearby springs for irrigation.
Importance to Mesoamerican Culture
“Teotihuacan” is Nahuatl for “birthplace of
the Gods”
Nahua peoples believed Teotihuacan
represented the “fifth sun” of humanity
Evidence that it was a multi-ethnic city
Contemporaneous with early Maya sites
Zapotec, Mixtec, and Maya-specific houses
Maya hieroglyphs mention intermarriage of
Teotihuacan royalty to Maya in Honduras and
Guatemala (Tikal)
Main temple structures
Pyramid of the Sun
Pyramid of the Moon
The Citadel
Connected to the Pyramid of the Moon by way
of the Avenue of the Dead
Temple of Quetzalcoatl
Butterfly Temple/ Butterfly of Quetzalcoatl
Numerous other temples
Exist on an axis
Pyramid of the Sun linked with Pleiades
star cluster
Teotihuacan as a whole is oriented to the
Orion constellation
Also see this in Maya site of Chichen Itza
Some evidence that arrangement of temples
as a clock-face has been suggested
Pyramid of the Sun
Chronology
largest and oldest construction at site
this and a few adjoining platforms were sole
monumental architecture at site for several centuries
Form
~ 200 ft. tall (one of tallest and largest in North America
until 20th century)
broad staircase focus of building
single flight divides into two and then merges again
may have functioned as backdrop for rituals and public
events
attendants going up stairs would have vanished and
reappeared
Pyramid of the Sun
Construction
Cave
probably had perishable superstructure
made of horizontal layers of clay faced with unshaped stones
Batres' reconstruction criticized, but 19th century paintings show
five distinct levels
discovered by Jorge Acosta during installation of Light and Sound
equipment in 1971
near center of pyramid
chamber with layout resembling four-leaf clover
Later Aztecs claimed to have come from "Chicomoztoc" or Seven
Caves
chambers may have been revered by Aztecs
Orientation
sun sets on axis with building on day of zenith passage (June
21) – highest point in the sky
pyramid faces the setting sun
governs axial arrangement of other buildings at site
Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun viewed from the north. This massive structure
is the largest pyramid in Mesoamerica and is more massive than the
Great Pyramid in Egypt.
http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/map/templesun.html
The Citadel
Residential complex (living quarters)
Interconnected rooms and patios
Elite residences
Center of the Citadel has the Temple of
the Feathered Serpent (= Quetzalcoatl)
Teotihuacan-The Citadel
The Citadel, or Ciudadela with the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in the
center. http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/map/teot-citadel.html
Temple of Quetzalcoatl
Chronology
construction of type dating prior to AD 300
sculptured facade revealed beneath later
construction
reconstructed between 1917-1920
Design
“Talud-tablero” architecture
Hallmark of Teotihuacan
Strong debate on WHY talud tablero
Sacred? Linked to “collective memory”?
Talud-Tablero architecture
Temple of Quezalcoatl
137 people buried there were apparently
sacrificed, their hands tied behind their
backs, during the construction of the
pyramid.
Many wore collars composed of imitation
human maxillae with teeth carved from
shell, as well as several real maxillae and
mandibles, and were deposited in the pits
with more than 2,100 pieces of worked
shell and numerous obsidian blades and
points.
Temple of Quetzalcoatl
The Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent in the Cuidadela. The temple
has a talud /tablero design incorporated on the facade.
Façade of Temple of Quetzalcoatl
The Serpent and Tlaloc reliefs on the Temple surface
Note
resemblance
of Tlaloc god
to Jaguar in
Olmec art
http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/map/teot-relief.html
Avenue or Way of the Dead
Known as "Miccaotli" to Aztecs
Orientation
runs north-south
complimented by secondary axis, East and West Avenues
which together, divide city into quadrants
Size
Construction
130 ft wide
about a mile and a half long
changes elevation up and down stairs at several points
lined on both sides by more than 75 temples and small
platforms; only partially reconstructed
Chronology
at least two older layers of construction beneath present
platforms
roadway connected nothing
afforded axial order, without leading from one place to
another
Avenue of the Dead
Pyramid of the Moon
Chronology
Recently been in the news as three burials
that appear to be Maya have been found
built after Pyramid of the Sun
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/1
0/021029070114.htm
End of the Avenue of the Dead (but not
true north)
Known for high number of tombs
Hands tied together/sacrificial posture
Pyramid of the Moon
The Pyramid of The Moon viewed from the south. This temple is
the second largest structure at the site.
http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/map/templemoon.html
Tomb in Pyramid of the Moon
The grave, which dates to about A.D. 150,
is associated with pyramid's fourth
construction phase. Seen today is the fifth
and last, built ca. A.D. 250.
The remains may be that of a royal and a
royal tomb may be at the center of the
pyramid, but excavation is difficult
because it involves tunneling into the
pyramid.
http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/mexico/
Artifacts in tomb
Greenstone figure
earspools
Bird & and animal remains
The remains of eight hawks or falcons, including this one, were
found in the tomb along with the bones of two jaguars.
http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/mexico/
Painter’s Palatte
Small Clay heads from Molds
Funerary Mask of Turquoise and
Coral
Ear spools
Popular motif on Aztec, Mixtec, and Maya
art (pottery, hieroglyphs, etc.) and
architecture
Obsidian used for more than tools;
movement toward jewelry, adornments
Served as a status marker; similar to “precious
metals”
Often see “wanna-be” ear spools among lower
classes
Worn by both males and females
Male/female spools in art
Decline
During the period from 600-900 A.D.
Site not abandoned, but population
decreased.
Some buildings burned between 600-700
A.D.
may be symbolic as in the case of the Olmec
destroying heads, associated with the loss of
power.
Empty by the time the Aztecs come around 3
centuries later.