Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan
Classic Teotihuacan (150–250 CE core; 250–600 CE modifications)·Teotihuacano (Central Mexican)·🇲🇽 State of Mexico, Mexico
About
About Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan
Feathered Serpent Pyramid (c.150–250 CE) at Teotihuacan's Ciudadela – talud-tablero façade encrusted with alternating feathered serpent and fire-serpent (Xiuhcoatl) heads with war-serpent headdresses. 200+ sacrificial victims under its foundation, this 342m plaza temple was the city's ritual-political core where Teotihuacan projected martial and cosmological power before the 550 CE burning.
Why it mattersMost richly sculpted pyramid at Teotihuacan and Mesoamerican serpent cult origins
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre and cosmological alignment
- 02Territorial marker and ritual landscape
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.150–250 CE (Feathered Serpent Pyramid)
- Period
- Classic Teotihuacan (150–250 CE core; 250–600 CE modifications)
- Culture
- Teotihuacano (Central Mexican)
- Builders
- Teotihuacan state craftsmen
- Purpose
- State temple to Quetzalcoatl; Ciudadela plaza mass sacrifice and cosmogram
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.150–250 CE (Feathered Serpent Pyramid)
Initial construction
On the ground
Structures & features
19.6925° N · 98.8436° W · 2290 m · 3 mapped features
Feathered Serpent Facade
facadeTalud-tablero feathered serpent heads alternating with fire serpent
19.6927° N · 98.8435° WCiudadela Plaza
plaza342m square plaza enclosing 100 k capacity prior to pyramid
19.6922° N · 98.8438° WSacrificial Burial Pits
burial complexFoundation pits with 200+ warrior sacrifices interlinked
19.6924° N · 98.8433° W