Pyramid of the Sun
Pirámide del Sol, Teotihuacan
Classic Teotihuacan (100–550 CE)·Teotihuacan·🇲🇽 State of Mexico, Mexico
About
About Pyramid of the Sun
Giant stepped truncated pyramid in Teotihuacan, largest Mesoamerican structure before Spanish, built over cave-tunnel. Avenue of the Dead aligned 15.5° east of north. Faced with tezontle and plaster.
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Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Tunnel cave beneath – intentional man-made sacred cave?
- 02Disappearance of Teotihuacan c.550 CE
Theories
- 01Sacred cave = place of genesis (Chicomoztoc)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 100–200 CE
- Period
- Classic Teotihuacan (100–550 CE)
- Culture
- Teotihuacan
- Purpose
- Temple to solar/storm deity, cosmological mountain
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 100–200 CE
Initial construction
c. 1651 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
19.6925° N · 98.8438° W · 2285 m · 2 mapped features
Adosada platform
platformPlatform fronting pyramid
19.6927° N · 98.8435° WCave tunnel
tunnel103 m tunnel to chamber under pyramid
19.6925° N · 98.8438° W
Gallery