We arranged for a tour to the Teotihuacan pyramids the next day. Our guide was very professional and well-versed in the history of the area. Most people do not realize that the Aztecs were the latest civilization after the Olmecs and Toltecs to occupy Central Mexico, evolving by merger and conquer. Their strength was a central location and trade throughout Mesoamerica. It was also a military power. Its name comes from a Náhuatl word that roughly means “City of Gods”.
Leaving CdMX by van on the 30 mile trip we drove through the expanding and tightly packed barrios. Like many other cities, the lure of a better life attracts those from the more rural or small-town areas. These immigrants appropriate unoccupied land and build with whatever they can scrounge, improving their homes over time.
Along the way we visited one of the usual handicraft shops. This one featured an agave garden, where we were told about the many uses of agave, including the use of the fibers for clothing. We were also shown pieces of art made from cut stones by local craftsmen. And, inside we were gifted with a few shots of various tequila flavors – all for sale at reasonable prices, of course. To be fair, there was no hard sell.
From there we continued on to our destination: The Teotihuacán pyramids – of the Sun and of the Moon. They rise from the valley floor at a distance. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third-largest pyramid in the world, no less magnificent than those at Giza.
The city was established around 400 BC, and there are elements of Maya, Zapotec, and Mixtec cultures within the structures. At its peak as many as 125,000 to 200,000 people lived here, making it one of the largest cities on earth in ancient times. However, the city’s history remains a largely mystery. The main structures generally run along the Avenue of the Dead, the city’s north-south axis that directly points to Cerro Gordo, an extinct volcano . The city was destroyed by fire and abandoned during the 7th century AD.
The ancient city is a UNESCO Heritage Site. For further information you may click this link.