Teotihuacan
The Giant City Built by a Mysterious People
Almost 2,000 years ago, there was a city so large that it was one of the most important in the world. It had enormous pyramids, long avenues, and thousands of inhabitants. The most surprising thing is that today no one knows for certain which people built it. That place is called Teotihuacan and it is one of the greatest wonders of the Americas.
It is located about 50 kilometers from Mexico City, in a broad valley surrounded by mountains. Although only its ruins remain today, walking through its streets makes it possible to imagine what a city full of life was like many centuries ago.
A Huge City
At its peak, Teotihuacan had more than 100,000 inhabitants, and some experts believe it may even have exceeded 150,000. At that time, it was one of the largest cities on the planet, comparable to the great capitals of Europe or Asia.
Its inhabitants planned the city very carefully. The streets followed a precise pattern, and the buildings were arranged according to a common design. There were neighborhoods where artisans, merchants, and families from very distant places lived. Thanks to trade, Teotihuacan became a wealthy and very important place.
The Avenue of the Dead
The most famous street is called the Avenue of the Dead. It is nearly four kilometers long and runs through the heart of the city. When the Aztecs discovered the ruins many centuries later, they thought that the large buildings on either side were tombs of ancient kings. That is why they gave it that name.
Today we know that those buildings had other functions, but the name has remained to this day. Walking along this enormous avenue makes anyone feel very small.
The Great Pyramids
At the end of the avenue stand two impressive structures. The most famous is the Pyramid of the Sun, one of the largest pyramids in the world. Very nearby is the Pyramid of the Moon, set in front of the mountains, as if it were part of the landscape.
Building these structures without modern machines was a massive undertaking. Thousands of people carried stones for years to construct monuments that are still standing nearly two millennia later.
The Great Mystery
What makes Teotihuacan an even more fascinating wonder is that no one knows exactly who founded it. Archaeologists believe that several peoples took part, but there is no document that clearly explains who its first inhabitants were.
When the Aztecs arrived at this place, the city had been abandoned for centuries. They were so impressed that they thought only the gods could have built something so enormous. That is why they called it Teotihuacan, a name that is usually translated as “the place where the gods are born.”
A City Full of Life
Although today we only see stone, many centuries ago Teotihuacán was full of color. The walls were painted in vivid shades of red, yellow, and blue. Ceremonies were held in its plazas, there were markets with goods brought from very distant places, and thousands of people walked its streets every day.
It was also an important trade center. Obsidian tools, made from a very sharp volcanic rock used to make knives and other objects, came from here. Merchants from many regions traveled to the city to exchange goods.
A Wonder of Humanity
Today Teotihuacán is protected as a World Heritage Site because it is one of the most important archaeological sites on the planet. Its enormous pyramids, its perfect planning, and the mystery surrounding its builders continue to amaze millions of visitors.
There are very famous ancient cities, but few combine such gigantic buildings with a question that no one has yet been able to answer. Who really built this incredible city? That enigma means that Teotihuacán remains one of humanity’s greatest wonders and one of the most fascinating places in Mexico.
