Teotihuacan

An Aztec word, Teotihuacan translates as “The place where gods were born”. Just 30 miles from what is now Mexico City, this was the largest city in the Western Hemisphere until the 1400s. But the ancient structures that exist there were built by an unknown civilization well before the Aztecs stumbled upon and named them.

As a prominent city, this Mesoamerican metropolis lasted some 700 years until about 750 AD. It was abandoned for unknown reasons, left unused except by a few itinerant peasants until the Aztecs discovered its ruins 500 years later.

The site covers about one square mile. Thinking the flanking monuments were tombs, the Spanish gave a misnomer, the Avenue of the Dead, to the wide central path in the complex. The Citadel is a large area that contains the Feathered Serpent Pyramid as its most prominent feature. The most significant pyramid on the site is the Pyramid of the Sun which, by any measure, is one of the world's largest ancient pyramids.

Other features include the Pyramid of the Moon, the Palace of Jaguars, the Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly, and the Tepantitla Compound where a mural displays the Great Goddess of Teotihuacan. Perhaps the most famous of the many frescoes is the Paradise of Tlaloc, a rain god.

The Ciudadela is an enclosed compound that could have held 100,000 people. It is estimated that at its height, Teotihuacan had a population of over 125,000, so this was probably a significant gathering place for celebration, entertainment, or religious ceremonial rights. Most prominent in the Ciudadela is the centrally located Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god.

Tourists can climb some of the pyramids, so wear durable comfortable shoes. The complex is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 to 5. There is an additional fee for photography of any kind at the site, and the use of a camera tripod requires a special permit, which involves some paperwork. Also, get there early, as the single-lane access road clogs up quickly.

Many artifacts are on display at the Teotihuacan Museum. An interesting botanical garden lies near the Pyramid of the Sun, and hot air balloon rides over the area are available at nearby San Francisco Mazapa.