Pyramid of the Sun: Difference between revisions

Pyramid of the Sun
	Front view of the Pyramid of the Sun
Location	Teotihuacán, Mexico State
Region	Mesoamerica
Type	Pyramid, Temple
Part of	Teotihuacan
Length	220 meters (720 feet)
Width	230 meters
Volume	1,184,828.3 cubic meters (41,841,820 cu ft)
Height	65.5 meters (215 feet)[contradictory]
History
Founded	200 AD
Abandoned	750 AD
Periods	Mesoamerican classic
Cultures	Toltec
Site notes
Condition	Protected by UNESCO
Ownership	Cultural heritage
Management	World Heritage Committee
Public access	Yes
	Third largest ancient pyramid in the world, the second largest is the Pyramid of Giza and the largest is the Great Pyramid of Cholula which is 90 kilometers away

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The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan, and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. It is believed to have been constructed about 200 CE.^[4] Found along the Avenue of the Dead, in between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, and in the shadow of the mountain Cerro Gordo, the pyramid is part of a large complex in the heart of the city.

History

The name Pyramid of the Sun comes from the Aztecs, who visited the city of Teotihuacan centuries after it was abandoned; the name given to the pyramid by the Teotihuacanos is unknown. It was constructed in two phases. The first construction stage, around 200 AD, brought the pyramid to nearly the size it is today. The second round of construction resulted in its completed size of 225 meters (738 feet) across and 75 meters (246 feet) high,^{[clarification needed]} making it the third-largest pyramid in the world,^[5] though still just over half the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza (146 metres). The second phase also saw the construction of an altar atop of the pyramid which has not survived into modern times.

Over the structure, the ancient Teotihuacanos finished their pyramid with lime plaster imported from surrounding areas, on which they painted brilliantly colored murals. While the pyramid has endured for centuries, the paint and plaster have not and are no longer visible. Jaguar heads and paws, stars, and snake rattles are among the few images associated with the pyramids.^{[citation needed]}

It is thought that the pyramid venerated a deity within Teotihuacan society. However, little evidence exists to support this hypothesis. The destruction of the temple on top of the pyramid, by both deliberate and natural forces prior to the archaeological study of the site, has so far prevented identification of the pyramid with any particular deity.^{[citation needed]}

Structure measurements, location and orientation

Dimension	Value
Height	71.17 metres or 233.5 feet^{[clarification needed]}
Base perimeter	794.79 metres or 2,607.6 feet
Side	230 metres or 750 feet
1/2 side	111.74 metres or 366.6 feet
Angle of slope	32.494 degrees
Lateral surface area	59,213.68 square metres or 637,370.7 square feet (assumes perfect square base and smooth faces)
Volume	1,184,828.31 cubic metres or 41,841,817 cubic feet (assumes perfect square base and smooth faces)

The pyramid was built on a carefully selected spot, from where it was possible to align it both to the prominent Cerro Gordo to the north and, in perpendicular directions, to sunrises and sunsets on specific dates, recorded by a number of architectural orientations in Mesoamerica.^[6] The whole central part of the urban grid of Teotihuacan, including the Avenue of the Dead, reproduces the orientation of the Sun Pyramid, while the southern part exhibits a slightly different orientation, dictated by the Ciudadela.^[7]

Excavations underneath the Pyramid

In 1959, archaeologist Rene Millon and his team of researchers were some of the first groups of archaeologists to study the tunnel system underneath the Pyramid of the Sun. While some of these tunnels were made after the fall of Teotihuacan and the Aztecs, they eventually connected to tunnels and caves that were made during the periods of these civilizations. The investigations led by Millon revealed that most of the main tunnels were sealed off, and whether this was purposeful or not is up to interpretation. The tunnels underneath the pyramid gleaned pieces of pottery, hearths, and other meticulously made artifacts from other cultures that showed evidence elsewhere in Teotihuacan. Millon and his team ultimately concluded from their research and excavation efforts that the pyramid was either built continuously over various periods of time by the people in Teotihuacan, or that the entire pyramid was built during one period of time with its foundation and cave system being made separately in an earlier period of time. The splitting of the time periods is due to different cultures having expressive influence in the artifacts found in the tunnels underneath the pyramid. Millon and his team believe that the early depictions of the pyramids in Teotihuacan being built by slaves is wrong due to the craftsmanship of the pyramid itself as well as the popularity of Teotihuacan amongst its peoples. The people who built these pyramids had the motivation to do so, whether they immigrated from elsewhere in Mesoamerica or not.^[8]

In 1971, archaeologist Ernesto Taboada discovered an entrance to a seven-meter-deep pit at the foot of the main staircase of the Pyramid of the Sun. The caves and tunnel systems underneath the pyramid were investigated by various archaeologists who have all concluded that these caves were sacred to those in Teotihuacan in the same way that caves were important cross-culturally in Mesoamerica. Various sources point to different theories of interpretations for why the Pyramid of the Sun was built and what the cave systems underneath it truly mean according to the Teotihuacan people and culture.^[9]^[10]

The cave directly underneath the pyramid is located six metres down beneath the centre of the structure. Originally this was believed to be a naturally formed lava tube and interpreted as possibly the place of Chicomoztoc, the place of human origin according to Nahua legends. More recent excavations have suggested that the space is man-made and could have served as a royal tomb. Recently scientists have used muon detectors to try to find other chambers within the interior of the pyramid,^[11] but substantial looting has prevented the discovery of a function for the chambers in Teotihuacan society.^{[citation needed]}

“Since skeletal remains and charcoal are absent in the cave, owing to ancient vandalism, it is impossible to date the earliest use of the place for ritual purposes or for rites of passage. The ceramics and discs could have been placed here centuries after the conversion of the natural tunnel into a shrine. In view of the position of the pyramid over the grotto, it would seem that the cave was the focal point and not an accidental coincidence, and that it may have determined the site for the construction of a primitive place of worship and then for the pyramid.”.^[10]

As stated above by Heyden, it is clear to archaeologists that the cave built under the Pyramid of the Sun was not built accidentally. In fact, the cave itself holds astronomical importance in relation to the Aztec people and their religion. The cave was a symbol of creation, of life itself; a theme throughout the religious history of Mesoamerica. Caves themselves became a crucial aspect of Mesoamerican mythology as it was believed that different ethnic groups sprang from caves and cavities. Thus, caves were considered to be the “wombs of the Earth.” Moreover, a large number of glyphs using the symbol for caves have been discovered by archaeologists indicating their importance. Several gods and deities are associated with caves such as Tepeyolotl, an Earth deity, and the God of fire, Xiuhtecuhtli, who was believed to call a cave at the center of the Earth his abode. This would help explain why caves became a site for religious practices and offerings. For example, in the Etzalcualiztli fiesta, a calendar celebrating the religious offering representing Tlaloc, the god of rain, was sacrificed and then placed in a cave.^[10]

The Pyramid of the Sun, built on top of the holy cave described in the excavation above, became a focal point for society as it was located on the Street of the Dead. More importantly than its physical location, the city layout of Teotihuacan incorporated alignments dictated by the astronomically significant orientation of the Pyramid of the Sun. The peak of the pyramid was constructed to align with the horizon in order to serve as a natural marker of the sun's position on the Aztec quarter days of the year. Thus, this cave is more important than most in Aztec culture and religion. This cave has been determined to have been built early in Teotihuacan's history as a shrine that was later covered with the Pyramid of the Sun. The site of this shrine served as a ceremonial place for the Aztec people as it held significant religious history for the city of Teotihuacan.^[12]

Recovered artifacts

Only a few caches of artifacts have been found in and around the pyramid. Obsidian arrowheads and human figurines have been discovered inside the pyramid and similar objects have been found at the nearby Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent in the Ciudadela. These objects may have represented sacrificial victims. A unique historical artifact discovered near the foot of the pyramid at the end of the nineteenth century was the Teotihuacan Ocelot, which is now in the British Museum's collection.^[13] In addition, burial sites of children have been found in excavations at the corners of the pyramid. It is believed that these burials were part of a sacrificial ritual dedicating the building of the pyramid.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Teotihuacán." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
^ "Pyramid of the Sun." Britannica.com October 6, 2024. Fact-checked by Britannica editors.
^ "Teotihuacán." Early Civilizations in the Americas Reference Library. Ed. Sonia G. Benson, Sarah Hermsen, and Deborah J. Baker. Vol. 2: Almanac, Vol. 2. Detroit: UXL, 2005. 315–332. Student Resources in Context. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
^ Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, retrieved October 29, 2016
^ Aston, Michael; Tim Taylor (1998). Atlas of Archaeology. Dorling Kindersley. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7894-3189-9.
^ Šprajc, Ivan (2000). "Astronomical alignments at Teotihuacan, Mexico". Latin American Antiquity. 11 (4): 403–415. doi:10.2307/972004. JSTOR 972004. S2CID 55054050.
^ Šprajc, Ivan (2001). Orientaciones astronómicas en la arquitectura prehispánica del centro de México. Mexico City: Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. ISBN 970-18-4180-8.
^ Millon, René; Drewitt, Bruce; Bennyhoff, James A. (1965). "The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán: 1959 Investigations". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 55 (6): 1–93. doi:10.2307/1005892. ISSN 0065-9746.
^ Heyden, Doris. "An Interpretation of the Cave underneath the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico". American Antiquity. 40 (2Part1): 131–147. doi:10.2307/279609. ISSN 0002-7316.
^ ^a ^b ^c Heyden, Doris (1975). "An Interpretation of the Cave underneath the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico". American Antiquity. 40 (2): 131–147. doi:10.2307/279609. JSTOR 279609. S2CID 130342291.
^ A. Menchaca-Rocha; et al. (2013). "Search for cavities in the Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Sun using cosmic muons: preliminary results". Proceedings of Science. X LASNP 012: 2003. Bibcode:2013ICRC...33.2003A.
^ Šprajc, Ivan. "Astronomical Alignments at Teotihuacan, Mexico". Latin American Antiquity. 11 (4): 403–415. doi:10.2307/972004. ISSN 1045-6635.
^ "British Museum Highlights". Archived from the original on 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2017-06-15.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Pyramid structure in Mexico}}
-[[Image:Piramide del Sol 072006.JPG|thumb|right|360px|A photograph of the Pyramid of the Sun.]]
+{{Redirect|Pirámide del Sol|the Lima Metro station|Pirámide del Sol metro station|the Maserati album|Pyramid of the Sun (album)}}
-The '''Pyramid of the Sun''' is the largest building in [[Teotihuacán]] and one of the largest in [[Mesoamerica]]. Found along the Avenue of the Dead, in between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela, and in the shadow of the massive mountain [[Cerro Gordo]], the pyramid is part of a large complex in the heart of the city.
+{{Infobox ancient site
+| name           = Pyramid of the Sun
+| native_name    =
+| native_name_lang =
+| alternate_name =
+| image          = File:Sun Pyramid 05 2015 Teotihuacan 3304.JPG
+| image_size     =
+| alt            =
+| caption        = Front view of the Pyramid of the Sun
+| mapframe       = yes
+| mapframe-id    = Q29238
+| mapframe-coord = {{Coord|19.693|N|98.844|W|type:landmark_scale:4000|display=inline,title}}
+| location       = [[Teotihuacán Municipality|Teotihuacán]], [[Mexico State]]
+| region         = [[Mesoamerica]]
+| type           = Pyramid, Temple
+| part_of        = [[Teotihuacan]]
+| length         = {{convert|220|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}<ref name="Teotihuacán 2014">"Teotihuacán." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.</ref>
+| width          = 230 meters<ref name="Pyramid of the Sun">"Pyramid of the Sun." Britannica.com October 6, 2024. Fact-checked by Britannica editors.</ref>
+| area           =
+| volume         = {{convert|1,184,828.3|m3|ft3|sp=us}}
+| diameter       =
+| circumference  =
+| height         = {{convert|65.5|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}<ref name="Teotihuacán 2014"/>{{contradictory-inline |date=March 2018 |reason=There are three different heights on this page, all referenced}}
+| builder        =
+| material       =
+| built          = 200 AD<ref>"Teotihuacán." Early Civilizations in the Americas Reference Library. Ed. Sonia G. Benson, Sarah Hermsen, and Deborah J. Baker. Vol. 2: Almanac, Vol. 2. Detroit: UXL, 2005. 315–332. Student Resources in Context. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.</ref>
+| abandoned      = 750 AD<ref name="Teotihuacán 2014">"Teotihuacán." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.</ref>
+| epochs         = Mesoamerican classic
+| cultures       = Toltec
+| dependency_of  =
+| occupants      =
+| event          =
+| excavations    =
+| archaeologists =
+| condition      = Protected by [[UNESCO]]
+| ownership      = Cultural heritage
+| management     = [[World Heritage Committee]]
+| public_access  = Yes
+| other_designation =
+| website        = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
+| notes          = Third largest ancient pyramid in the world, the second largest is the [[Pyramid of Giza]] and the largest is the [[Great Pyramid of Cholula]] which is 90 kilometers away
+}}
+The '''Pyramid of the Sun''' is the largest building in [[Teotihuacan]], and one of the largest in [[Mesoamerica]]. It is believed to have been constructed about 200 CE.<ref>[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/teot2/hd_teot2.htm, Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, retrieved October 29, 2016]</ref> Found along the Avenue of the Dead, in between the [[Pyramid of the Moon]] and the Ciudadela, and in the shadow of the mountain Cerro Gordo, the pyramid is part of a large complex in the heart of the city.
 ==History==
+[[File:MW-Teotihuacan9.jpg|thumb|The Sun pyramid]]
-The name '''Pyramid of the Sun''' comes from the Aztecs, who visited the city of Teotihuacán centuries after it was abandoned; the name given to the pyramid by the Teotihuacanos is unknown.  It 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 (225 meters) across and 246 feet (75 meters) high, making it the third largest pyramid in the world behind the [[Great Pyramid of Cholula]] and [[The Great Pyramid]].  The second phase also saw the construction of an altar atop of the pyramid, which has not survived into modern times.  The Adosada platform was added to the pyramid in the early third century, at around the same time that the Ciudadela and Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent were constructed.
+[[File:Ciudadela - Blick zur Sonnenpyramide.jpg|thumb|Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan]]
+The name ''Pyramid of the Sun'' comes from the [[Aztecs]], who visited the city of Teotihuacan centuries after it was abandoned; the name given to the pyramid by the Teotihuacanos is unknown. It was constructed in two phases. The first construction stage, around 200 AD, brought the pyramid to nearly the size it is today. The second round of construction resulted in its completed size of {{convert|225|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} across and {{convert|75|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} high,{{clarify |date=March 2018 |reason=There are three different heights on this page, all referenced}} making it the third-largest pyramid in the world,<ref>{{cite book|last=Aston|first=Michael|title=Atlas of Archaeology|year=1998|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|isbn=978-0-7894-3189-9|author-link=Mick Aston|author2=Tim Taylor|page=[https://archive.org/details/atlasofarchaeolo0000asto/page/43 43]|url=https://archive.org/details/atlasofarchaeolo0000asto/page/43}}</ref> though still just over half the height of the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] (146 metres). The second phase also saw the construction of an altar atop of the pyramid which has not survived into modern times.
-Over the structure the ancient Teotihuacanos finished their pyramid with lime plaster imported from surrounding areas, on which they painted brilliantly colored murals.  While the pyramid has endured for centuries, the paint and plaster have not and are no longer visible. Few images are thought to have been included in the mural decorations on the sides of the pyramid.  Jaguar heads and paws, stars, and snake rattles are among the few images associated with the pyramids.
+Over the structure, the ancient Teotihuacanos finished their pyramid with lime plaster imported from surrounding areas, on which they painted brilliantly colored murals. While the pyramid has endured for centuries, the paint and plaster have not and are no longer visible. Jaguar heads and paws, stars, and snake rattles are among the few images associated with the pyramids.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}
-It is thought that the pyramid venerated a deity within Teotihuacan society but the destruction of the temple on top of the pyramid, by both deliberate and natural forces prior to the archaeological study of the site, has so far prevented identification of the pyramid with any particular deity.  Some scholars have suggested that the deity of the pyramid was the Great Goddess, one of two major Teotihuacan deities and one of the few goddesses in ancient Mesoamerica.  However, little evidence exists to support this theory. WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS SOMEONE TELL US PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
+It is thought that the pyramid venerated a deity within Teotihuacan society. However, little evidence exists to support this hypothesis. The destruction of the temple on top of the pyramid, by both deliberate and natural forces prior to the archaeological study of the site, has so far prevented identification of the pyramid with any particular deity.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}}
-==Modern investigations==
-The first major archaeological excavation of the site was done by [[Leopoldo Batres]] in [[1906]]. Batres supervised restoration of the Pyramid for the 1910 centennial of Mexican independence. Some aspects of Batres' reconstruction of the pyramid have been questioned by later archaeologists. Subsequent excavations of Teotihuacan have continued to the present. In 1925 Pedro Dosal discovered skeletons at the 4 corners of the foundations of the temple, which he interpreted as [[human sacrifice]]s at the dedication of the temple. Someone was here
-==Structure location and orientation==
+==Structure measurements, location and orientation==
+{| class="wikitable"
-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 civilization|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.
+|-
+! Dimension
+! Value
+|-
+| Height
+| {{convert|71.17|m|ft|disp=or}}{{clarify |date=March 2018 |reason=There are three different heights on this page, all referenced}}
+|-
+| Base perimeter
+| {{convert|794.79|m|ft|disp=or}}
+|-
+| Side
+| {{convert|230|m|ft|disp=or}}
+|-
+| 1/2 side
+| {{convert|111.74|m|ft|disp=or}}
+|-
+| Angle of slope
+| 32.494 degrees
+|-
+| Lateral surface area
+| {{convert|59213.68|sqm|sqft|disp=or}} (assumes perfect square base and smooth faces)
+|-
+| Volume
+| {{convert|1184828.31|m3|cuft|disp=or}} (assumes perfect square base and smooth faces)
+|}
+[[File:Teotihuacán - Modell Sonnenpyramide.jpg|thumb|A model of the pyramid]]
+The pyramid was built on a carefully selected spot, from where it was possible to align it both to the prominent Cerro Gordo to the north and, in perpendicular directions, to sunrises and sunsets on specific dates, recorded by a number of architectural orientations in Mesoamerica.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Šprajc |first1=Ivan |title=Astronomical alignments at Teotihuacan, Mexico |journal=Latin American Antiquity |date=2000 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=403–415 |doi=10.2307/972004|jstor=972004 |s2cid=55054050 }}</ref> The whole central part of the urban grid of Teotihuacan, including the Avenue of the Dead, reproduces the orientation of the Sun Pyramid, while the southern part exhibits a slightly different orientation, dictated by the Ciudadela.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Šprajc |first1=Ivan |title=Orientaciones astronómicas en la arquitectura prehispánica del centro de México |date=2001 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia |location=Mexico City |isbn=970-18-4180-8}}</ref>
+==Excavations underneath the Pyramid==
-The pyramid was built over a man-made tunnel leading to a "cave" located six meters down beneath the center of the structure.  Originally this was believed to be a naturally formed [[lava tube]] cave and interpreted as possibly the place of [[Chicomoztoc]], the place of human origin according to [[Aztec mythology|Nahua legends]].  More recent excavations have suggested that the space is man-made instead, and could have served as a royal tomb.<ref>Šprajc (2000, p.410)</ref>  Recently scientists have used [[muon]] detectors to try to find other chambers within the interior of the pyramid, but substantial looting has  prevented the discovery of a function for the chambers in Teotihuacan society.
+In 1959, archaeologist Rene Millon and his team of researchers were some of the first groups of archaeologists to study the tunnel system underneath the Pyramid of the Sun. While some of these tunnels were made after the fall of Teotihuacan and the Aztecs, they eventually connected to tunnels and caves that were made during the periods of these civilizations. The investigations led by Millon revealed that most of the main tunnels were sealed off, and whether this was purposeful or not is up to interpretation. The tunnels underneath the pyramid gleaned pieces of pottery, hearths, and other meticulously made artifacts from other cultures that showed evidence elsewhere in Teotihuacan. Millon and his team ultimately concluded from their research and excavation efforts that the pyramid was either built continuously over various periods of time by the people in Teotihuacan, or that the entire pyramid was built during one period of time with its foundation and cave system being made separately in an earlier period of time. The splitting of the time periods is due to different cultures having expressive influence in the artifacts found in the tunnels underneath the pyramid. Millon and his team believe that the early depictions of the pyramids in Teotihuacan being built by slaves is wrong due to the craftsmanship of the pyramid itself as well as the popularity of Teotihuacan amongst its peoples. The people who built these pyramids had the motivation to do so, whether they immigrated from elsewhere in Mesoamerica or not.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Millon |first=René |last2=Drewitt |first2=Bruce |last3=Bennyhoff |first3=James A. |date=1965 |title=The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacán: 1959 Investigations |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1005892 |journal=Transactions of the American Philosophical Society |volume=55 |issue=6 |pages=1–93 |doi=10.2307/1005892 |issn=0065-9746}}</ref>
+In 1971, archaeologist Ernesto Taboada discovered an entrance to a seven-meter-deep pit at the foot of the main staircase of the Pyramid of the Sun. The caves and tunnel systems underneath the pyramid were investigated by various archaeologists who have all concluded that these caves were sacred to those in Teotihuacan in the same way that caves were important cross-culturally in Mesoamerica. Various sources point to different theories of interpretations for why the Pyramid of the Sun was built and what the cave systems underneath it truly mean according to the Teotihuacan people and culture.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Heyden |first=Doris |date= |title=An Interpretation of the Cave underneath the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-antiquity/article/abs/an-interpretation-of-the-cave-underneath-the-pyramid-of-the-sun-in-teotihuacan-mexico/C241A8B4C520B0838DF89CD612ABFF22 |journal=American Antiquity |language=en |volume=40 |issue=2Part1 |pages=131–147 |doi=10.2307/279609 |issn=0002-7316}}</ref><ref name="Heyden, Doris.">{{cite journal | url=https://doi.org/10.2307/279609 | doi=10.2307/279609 | jstor=279609 | title=An Interpretation of the Cave underneath the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico | last1=Heyden | first1=Doris | journal=American Antiquity | year=1975 | volume=40 | issue=2 | pages=131–147 | s2cid=130342291 }}</ref>
+The cave directly underneath the pyramid is located six metres down beneath the centre of the structure. Originally this was believed to be a naturally formed [[lava tube]] and interpreted as possibly the place of [[Chicomoztoc]], the place of human origin according to [[Aztec mythology|Nahua legends]]. More recent excavations have suggested that the space is man-made and could have served as a royal tomb. Recently scientists have used [[muon]] detectors to try to find other chambers within the interior of the pyramid,<ref>{{cite journal|author=A. Menchaca-Rocha|display-authors=etal|date=2013|title=Search for cavities in the Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Sun using cosmic muons: preliminary results|journal=Proceedings of Science|volume=X LASNP 012| page=2003 | bibcode=2013ICRC...33.2003A |url=https://pos.sissa.it/194/012/pdf}}</ref> but substantial looting has prevented the discovery of a function for the chambers in Teotihuacan society.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=March 2016}}
+“''Since skeletal remains and charcoal are absent in the cave, owing to ancient vandalism, it is impossible to date the earliest use of the place for ritual purposes or for rites of passage. The ceramics and discs could have been placed here centuries after the conversion of the natural tunnel into a shrine. In view of the position of the pyramid over the grotto, it would seem that the cave was the focal point and not an accidental coincidence, and that it may have determined the site for the construction of a primitive place of worship and then for the pyramid.''”.<ref name="Heyden, Doris."/>
+As stated above by Heyden, it is clear to archaeologists that the cave built under the Pyramid of the Sun was not built accidentally. In fact, the cave itself holds astronomical importance in relation to the Aztec people and their religion. The cave was a symbol of creation, of life itself; a theme throughout the religious history of Mesoamerica. Caves themselves became a crucial aspect of Mesoamerican mythology as it was believed that different ethnic groups sprang from caves and cavities. Thus, caves were considered to be the “wombs of the Earth.” Moreover, a large number of glyphs using the symbol for caves have been discovered by archaeologists indicating their importance. Several gods and deities are associated with caves such as Tepeyolotl, an Earth deity, and the God of fire, Xiuhtecuhtli, who was believed to call a cave at the center of the Earth his abode. This would help explain why caves became a site for religious practices and offerings. For example, in the Etzalcualiztli fiesta, a calendar celebrating the religious offering representing Tlaloc, the god of rain, was sacrificed and then placed in a cave.<ref name="Heyden, Doris."/>
+The Pyramid of the Sun, built on top of the holy cave described in the excavation above, became a focal point for society as it was located on the Street of the Dead. More importantly than its physical location, the city layout of Teotihuacan incorporated alignments dictated by the astronomically significant orientation of the Pyramid of the Sun. The peak of the pyramid was constructed to align with the horizon in order to serve as a natural marker of the sun's position on the Aztec quarter days of the year. Thus, this cave is more important than most in Aztec culture and religion. This cave has been determined to have been built early in Teotihuacan's history as a shrine that was later covered with the Pyramid of the Sun. The site of this shrine served as a ceremonial place for the Aztec people as it held significant religious history for the city of Teotihuacan.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Šprajc |first=Ivan |date= |title=Astronomical Alignments at Teotihuacan, Mexico |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/latin-american-antiquity/article/abs/astronomical-alignments-at-teotihuacan-mexico/470A79981CBE625747A875C336EFDFD7 |journal=Latin American Antiquity |language=en |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=403–415 |doi=10.2307/972004 |issn=1045-6635}}
+</ref>
 ==Recovered artifacts==
+{{Comparison_of pyramids.svg|sn}}
-Only a few caches of artifacts have been found in and around the pyramid.  [[Obsidian]] arrowheads and human figurines have been discovered inside the pyramid and similar objects have been found at the nearby [[Pyramid of the Moon]] and [[Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan|Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent]] in the Ciudadela.  These objects may have represented sacrificial victims.  In addition, burial sites of children have been found in excavations at the corners of the pyramid. It is believed that these burials were part of a sacrificial ritual dedicating the building of the pyramid.
+Only a few caches of artifacts have been found in and around the pyramid.  [[Obsidian]] arrowheads and human figurines have been discovered inside the pyramid and similar objects have been found at the nearby [[Pyramid of the Moon]] and [[Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan|Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent]] in the Ciudadela. These objects may have represented sacrificial victims. A unique historical artifact discovered near the foot of the pyramid at the end of the nineteenth century was the [[Teotihuacan Ocelot]], which is now in the [[British Museum]]'s collection.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/c/calcite_onyx_ritual_container.aspx |title=British Museum Highlights |access-date=2017-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018233438/http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/c/calcite_onyx_ritual_container.aspx |archive-date=2015-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  In addition, burial sites of children have been found in excavations at the corners of the pyramid. It is believed that these burials were part of a sacrificial ritual dedicating the building of the pyramid.
 ==See also==
+*[[List of Mesoamerican pyramids]]
+*[[List of tallest structures built before the 20th century]]
+==References==
-*[[Teotihuacan]]
-*[[Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Teotihuacan|Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent]]
-==Notes==
 {{reflist}}
-==References==
+==Further reading==
+{{Commons category|Pirámide del Sol}}
-*Evans, Susan Toby, "Ancient Mexico and Central America", [[2004]]
+{{refbegin}}
-*Gwin, Peter, "Seeing Through Walls," ''[[National Geographic]]'', Feb. [[2005]]
+*{{cite book|author=Evans, Susan Toby|title=Ancient Mexico and Central America|year= 2004}}
-*Šprajc, Ivan (2000). "Astronomical Alignments at Teotihuacan, Mexico". ''Latin American Antiquity'' 11 (4): pp.403–415
+*{{cite news|author=Gwin, Peter|title=Seeing Through Walls|work=[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]|date=Feb 2005}}
-*Sugiyama, Saburo, "Governance and Polity at Classic Teotihuacan," ''Mesoamerican Archaeology'', 2005
+*{{cite news|author=Šprajc, Ivan |year=2000|title=Astronomical Alignments at Teotihuacan, Mexico|work=Latin American Antiquity|volume= 11 |issue=4|pages=403–415}}
+*{{cite news|author=Sugiyama, Saburo|title=Governance and Polity at Classic Teotihuacan|work=Mesoamerican Archaeology|year= 2005}}
+*Leibsohn, Dana, and Barbara E. Mundy, “Making Sense of the Pre-Columbian,” ''Vistas: Visual Culture in Spanish America, 1520–1820'' (2015). [https://vistas.ace.fordham.edu/themes/pre-columbian-images-01/ http://www.fordham.edu/vistas]
+{{refend}}
+{{wide image|Panorama Sun Pyramid Teotihuacan3.jpg|1300px|Panoramic view of the Pyramid of the Sun}}
+{{Authority control}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyramid Of The Sun}}
-{{coor title d|19.6925|N|98.8438|W|type:landmark_scale:4000}}
+[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 2nd century]]
 [[Category:Teotihuacan]]
-[[Category:2nd century architecture]]
+[[Category:Archaeological sites in the State of Mexico]]
-[[Category:Archaeological sites in Mexico]]
+[[Category:Pyramids in Mexico]]
-[[Category:Buildings and structures in Mesoamerica]]
+[[Category:Architecture in the State of Mexico]]
-[[cs:Pyramida Slunce]]
-[[de:Sonnenpyramide von Teotihuacán]]
-[[es:Pirámide del Sol (Teotihuacan)]]
-[[nl:Piramide van de zon]]
-[[zh:太陽金字塔]]

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