A collage of images from the visit to the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, near Mexico City, with the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon as major attractions.
Teotihuacan Mexico
Memories of Mexico City – Teotihuacan
Tag Archives: Pyramid of the Sun
Pyramid of the Sun View from the Museum
Our final view of the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan, near Mexico City. It was taken from the backyard of the Beatriz de la Fuente Teotihuacán Murals Museum.
Pyramid of the Sun View from the Museum
Adding Color to the Pyramid of the Sun
Similar to the Pyramid of the Moon, vendors sit in front of the Pyramid of the Sun to sell colorful items
Color in the Foreground at Pyramid of the Sun
Views of the Pyramid of the Sun
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.
The Mexicas gave the Pyramid of the Sun its name because they believed it was built to honor the sun. That leads to it sometimes being referred to as the Aztec Pyramid of the Sun. It is believed to have been built around 200 C.E., and its original purpose remains unknown.
Temple of the Sun Stonework
Rows of Stonework at Pyramid of the Sun
Grass Growth at Pyramid of the Sun
Looks Like a Pyramid
Steps on the Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun has 248 steps on its west side. As of 2020, one can no longer climb the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan due to a prohibition by INAH (the National Institute of Anthropology and History) to preserve the site and ensure visitor safety, owing to the dangerous and steep steps.
Steps on the Pyramid of the Sun
Steps on the side of Pyramid of the Sun
Forbidden Steps on the Pyramid of the Sun
Pyramid of the Sun
The largest pyramid in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world, the imposing Pyramid of the Sun towers 66 meters tall, a monumental site that dwarfs even the Pyramid of the Moon. Built around 100 CE from red volcanic rock, when Teotihuacan was reaching its zenith, the base measures 220 by 230 meters.
On the pyramid’s west side, there are 248 steps leading to the top of the structure, although visitors can no longer climb it. It is thought that there was once a temple at the summit – the Aztecs later used it for rituals and sacrifices.
Pyramid of the Sun
