Teopanzolco Pyramid Complex (Cuernavaca)
Teopanzolco · Temple of Teopanzolco · Teopanzolco twin-temple pyramid
Late Postclassic (Tlahuica / Aztec)·Tlahuica / Aztec·🇲🇽 Morelos, Teopanzolco — north of Cuernavaca (Tepozteco valley), Mexico
About
About Teopanzolco Pyramid Complex (Cuernavaca)
Tlahuica–Aztec double pyramid at Teopanzolco (Cuernavaca) — classic twin-stair pyramid 35×25 m base, 14 m high, with twin temples to Tlaloc–Huitzilopochtli atop (south temple Huitzilopochtli, north Tlaloc) mirroring Tenayuca/Templo Mayor, c. 1200–1521 CE. Built over 11 superimposed rebuild layers visible when 2017 Puebla earthquake (19 Sept) cracked modern facing revealing inner Temple of Tlaloc. Excavated by INAH 1921 (earthquake rescue 2017 by INAH archaeologists). Associated settlement with 14 structures around plaza.
Why it mattersTwin-stair model before Templo Mayor plus 2017 natural exposure of inner nest exceptional for studying Aztec superimposition without destructive excavation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 0111th inner Tlaloc temple dedication
- 02Earthquake damage vs preservation paradox
Theories
- 01Teopanzolco is provincial copy of Tenayuca–Templo Mayor axis
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. 1200–1521 CE (Postclassic, Tlahuica under Aztec empire)
- Period
- Late Postclassic (Tlahuica / Aztec)
- Culture
- Tlahuica / Aztec
- Builders
- Tlahuica lords then Aztec overlords
- Purpose
- Twin temples to war/rain gods — imperial shrine before Tenochtitlan model
- Abandoned
- 1521 CE (conquest)
- Rediscovered
- 1921 (INAH) / 2017 earthquake exposure
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1200–1521 CE (Postclassic, Tlahuica under Aztec empire)
Initial construction
c. 1517 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
18.9333° N · 99.1011° W · 1800 m · 3 mapped features
Twin-stair pyramid
pyramid35×25 m double pyramid with twin temples
18.9333° N · 99.1011° WHidden Tlaloc inner temple
temple11th rebuild Tlaloc temple exposed 2017
18.9333° N · 99.1011° WPlaza and ballcourt
plazaPlaza with palace groups around pyramid
18.9331° N · 99.1015° W
Gallery