In the first century B.C.E. a new power arose in the valley of Mexico. Unknown builders laid out a magnificent city at a site 50km north east of where the Aztecs would later build their capital Tenochtitlan.
Teotihuacan- avenue of the dead
The imposing ruins so overwhelmed the Aztecs that they incorporated the site into their mythology as the place where the sun and the moon were created at the beginning of the current era, the ‘the fifth sun’. Since it had been in ruin for over 500 years, no one knew its original name or knew much about its mysterious builders. The Aztecs named it, Teotihuacan “The Place of the Gods’.
At the time of Teotihuacan’s beginning, the inhabitants of the Valley of Mexico thrived through trade with the ancient Olmec civilization, exchanging highly prized green obsidian, exotic bird feathers and sea shells.
The population of the Valley of Mexico grew rapidly and gave birth to Teotihuacan. By 1 C.E. Teotihuacan had upwards of 40,000 inhabitants and by 500 C.E. as many as 200,000 and covered more than 20sq km. At the time it was one of the largest cities in the world, far larger than London of that era.
Its growth followed an established layout that had a symbolic meaning. It was built on a site of an even more ancient religious significance. The massive pyramids of the sun and moon were laid out with a grand avenue connecting them.
Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc
The inhabitants of Teotihuacan appear to have greatly prospered from both trade and war. Some of their bloodletting sacrificial rites seem to have influenced the Aztecs who centuries later continued and expanded the practices. Particularly revered at Teotihuacan were the gods Tlaloc (the rain god) and Quetzalcoatl (the plumed serpent). These gods would continue to be worshipped long past the glory of Teotihuacan.
View Teotihuacan pottery items
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