The Pyramid of Sun and Moon
Vocabulary
| various | terrestrial | drive/drove/driven (2) |
| temple | step (2) | throughout |
| priest | explore | check it out |
| located | shortcut | big/bigger/biggest |
| urban | plateau | one of the largest |
| height | discover | large/larger/largest |
| belief | birthplace | build/built/built |
| own | right now | give/gave/given |
| wide | massive | roughly (2) |
| avenue | extremely | run/ran/run (4) |
| tomb | ceremony | ceremonial |
| inspire | celestial | platform (3) |
| series | sacrifice | throughout |
| high | perform | challenging |
| steep | pretty (2) | recommend |
| ancient | take it (2) | modern-day |
| stairs | folklore | impressive |
| honor | ruin (2) | comfortable |
| birth | right (5) | intersection |
| bit | make it (2) | make/made/made |
| mile | abandon | take/took/taken |
| long | base (2) | not only that |
| total | elevated | surrounded |
| ritual | associated | find/found/found |
| contain | structure | come across (2) |
| grave | obsidian | greenstone |
| cosmos | represent | architecture |
| variety | level (2) | well-known |
| pieces | souvenir | subterranean |
| carving | sculpture | sell/sold/sold |
| jewelry | selection | broad/broader/broadest |
| crafts | related (2) | intersection |
Video
Transcript
Hi, guys! I’m Courtney, and today I’m here in Teotihuacan, which is about an hour’s drive from Mexico City. As you might know, Mexico is very well-known for having various pyramids, ancient temples, and ruins all throughout the country. Today, we’re here to explore one of the biggest pyramids in the world. Let’s go check it out!
Teotihuacan
Located about 50 kilometers northeast of modern-day Mexico City, Teotihuacan was one of the largest urban centers in the ancient world, and to this day, no one knows who built it.
The Aztecs arrived on the Mexican central plateau during the first half of the 14th century. As they were coming from the north, they discovered the abandoned ruins of the city. They connected it to their own beliefs and gave it the name Teotihuacan, meaning “birthplace of the gods.”
La Casa de los Muertos
Right now, we’re walking through La Casa de los Muertos, which is Spanish for “Avenue of the Dead,” and it was the main road for this ancient city. This massive central road is roughly 40 meters wide and runs for more than four kilometers.
It’s surrounded by impressive ceremonial architecture as well as platforms that the Aztecs believed to be tombs, therefore inspiring the name Avenue of the Dead.
Steps to the Pyramid
Throughout this entire avenue, you’ll come across a series of steps that are both high and steep. It’s pretty difficult and challenging, so I would recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes and clothing.
So, through all these up-and-down stairs, I think I found a shortcut, and I’m going to take it.
Mexican folklore says the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun were built in honor of the birth of the sun and moon gods. To honor the gods, priests were said to perform daily ceremonies at the pyramids.
The Pyramid of the Moon
After a bit of walking, we arrive at this intersection where both temples connect to the Avenue of the Dead. Behind me, you’ll see the Pyramid of the Sun, and to my right, the Pyramid of the Moon. Right now, we’re going to try to make it to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun, so let’s go!
Less than half a mile south of the Pyramid of the Moon is the Pyramid of the Sun. It has a height of more than 63 meters and a base more than 225 meters long on each side, making it the third largest pyramid in the world.
Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun has 248 total steps. Not only that, but they’re also extremely tall and extremely steep, so it’s very dangerous. But we finally made it! Its elevated platforms were likely used for rituals.
Tombs found associated with the structure contained both human and animal sacrifices, along with grave goods such as obsidian and greenstone.
The location of the pyramid and its design are thought to represent the three levels of their cosmos: celestial, terrestrial, and subterranean.
Throughout the main intersection on the Avenue of the Dead, you’ll find many people selling a variety of different creative Aztec pieces, such as carvings, sculptures, and jewelry. As you’re leaving, you can also find a broader selection of more souvenirs and crafts related to Day of the Dead.
So that’s it for today, guys! This was Teotihuacan, and I hope you enjoyed. We’ll see you next time.
Questions
Pyramids. The video was about the Pyramids of Gaza. The presenter gave a tour of the Pyramids of Egypt. True or false?
Sacsayhuaman. Is Teotihuacan in a suburb of Mexico City? Did Teotihuacan only consist of pyramids, or was it also a city?
Stone Spheres. Were the pyramids placed randomly, or based on a pattern?
Puma Punku. It’s very easy to climb the steps leading up the pyramids. Is this right or wrong?
Easter Island. What are the two man pyramids of Teotihuacan?
Coral Castle. Are the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon tiny, small, medium-sized, large, very big, or gigantic? Does Courtney give any numbers?
Nasca Lines. What might the position of the pyramids represent?
Stonehenge. Can tourists only walk around, see pyramids, and climb them?
Baalbek. My friends and I have visited the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. Yes or no?
Machu Picchu. Have you visited other great monuments?
Angkor Wat. How and why might have pyramids and other structures been built?
Great Wall. My friends and I would like to become archaeologists, scientists, or travel writers and bloggers.
Carnac. What might happen in the future?
Verde Mesa. What could or should people, governments, scientists, and businesses do?
