(Place of the day, from pictures I have taken.) [Mexico, Teotihuacan, the Pyramid of the Sun. Comment: Wikipedia: “The name Teo-ti-huaca-n was given by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztec centuries after the fall of the city, meaning “place where gods were born”. The early history of Teotihuacan is quite mysterious, and the origin of its founders is uncertain. The city reached its peak in AD 450, when it was the center of a powerful culture whose influence extended through much of the Mesoamerican region. At its peak, the city covered over 11½ square miles, and perhaps housed a population of 150,000 people, with one estimate reaching as high as 250,000. The city’s broad central avenue, called “Avenue of the Dead” is flanked by impressive ceremonial architecture, including the immense Pyramid of the Sun which was constructed in two phases. The first construction stage, around 100 A.D., brought the pyramid to nearly the size it is today. The second round of construction resulted in its completed size of 738 feet across and 246 feet high, making it the third largest pyramid in the world, but being much shorter than the Great Pyramid of Giza. The orientation of the structure may hold some anthropological significance. The pyramid is oriented slightly northwest of the horizon point of the setting sun on two days a year, August 12 and April 29, which are about one divinatory calendar year apart for the Teotihuacanos. The day of August 12 is significant because it would have marked the date of the beginning of the present era and the initial day of the Maya long-count calendar. In addition, many important astrological events can be viewed from the location of the pyramid that are important in terms of both agriculture and belief systems of the ancient society. The pyramid was built over a man-made tunnel leading to a “cave” located 18 feet down beneath the center of the structure which could have been man made and served as a royal tomb.” Here are four pictures of the Pyramid including in the second picture a number of people on the top and in the fourth, the way down.]
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 14:26:14 +0000
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