21 Pyramid Of The Sun Facts: Is It The Ancient Monument You Can Find?

Built around 200 AD, the Pyramid of the Sun happens to be the third-largest ancient pyramid in the world.

But ever wonder how this precious architecture even came into existence? Keep reading below and answer all your questions about the Sun Pyramid of Mesoamerica.

The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest pyramid of the ancient city of Teotihuacan, Mexico. It was built around the year 200 AD and currently is the largest historical structure in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest pyramid in the world, after the Great Pyramid of Cholula, being the largest one, followed by the Pyramid of Giza.

The Sun Pyramid rises to about 216 ft (66 m) above ground level and measures about 720 by 760 ft (220 by 230 m) at the base.

If you love ancient architecture facts like this one, further reads like Abu Simbel facts and Sobek Egyptian God should be your next stop.

History: Pyramid Of The Sun

Although the history of one of the largest pyramids in the world, the Sun Pyramid, is not much known, archeologists have still found sufficient evidence that helps in the close assumptions of how the pyramid came into being.

Because the original name given by the Teotihuacanos has always remained a mystery, the name 'Pyramid of the Sun' was given by the Aztecs who visited the abandoned city of Teotihuacan. However, it is presumed that the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun were built to honor the sun and the moon gods.

The massive Pyramid of the Sun stands tall at more than 200 ft (61 m) in central Mexico.

The pyramid was constructed in two phases; the first was around 200 CE when the pyramid was built up close to what it is now.

However, the second phase brought the size of the pyramid to the current size of 738 ft (225 m) wide and 246 ft (75 m) height, making the Sun Pyramid one of the largest structures of its kind in the world.

The second round of construction also built an altar at the top of the pyramid, which could not survive to see the modern sun.

The finishing of the pyramid by the Teotihuacanos was done with lime plaster imported from neighboring areas, and on them, they had painted red. Although the pyramid has survived for several centuries, the plaster and the colors did not make it.

The motive of constructing the pyramid and the people who built Teotihuacan remains a mystery, with limited information regarding their civilization. Many assume that the city of Teotihuacan was destroyed due to climate change and severe droughts.

The pyramid has not yet been studied in terms of any particular deity because of both natural and deliberate destruction of the temple part located at its top.

Composition & Measurements

The Pyramid of the Sun has a very interesting structure that tells a lot about the Teotihuacanos.

Talking of the measurement of the pyramid, this stands at the height of 233.5 ft (71.17 m) with a base perimeter of 2,607.6 ft (794.79 m). The angle of the slope of this impressive pyramid is 32.494 degrees, and the lateral area is 637,370.7 sq ft (213.68 m). 

The pyramid's location was carefully chosen so that it would be aligned not only to the prominent Cerro Gordo to the north but also, in perpendicular directions, to sunrises and sunsets on specific dates, as recorded by a variety of Mesoamerican architectural orientations.

The pyramid is part of a large complex in the middle of the city and was constructed over an artificial tunnel or long corridor that will lead you to a 19 ft (6 m) cave underneath the central part of the pyramid.

Recent excavations have also studied that the space was possibly used as a royal tomb constructed by men.

Location & Other Architectures

The Pyramid of the Sun is located in Teotihuacan, a city just a few miles away from Mexico City.

The Pyramid of the Sun was established around 1,800 years ago and has lived to see centuries of new settlements. It is located in Teotihuacan, central Mexico, about 30 mi (48 km) northeast of Mexico City. The city of Teotihuacan is one of the most important sites in Mexico.

The Pyramid of the Sun, which was used for daily ceremonies like human sacrifices and was covered in red to appear as if it was soaked in blood and, in a way, also appealing to the gods.

Towards the north of the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon is smaller and was probably built 50 years later.

The Avenue of the Dead was the main street of Teotihuacan. The central part of the Teotihuacan urban grid and the Avenue of the Dead reflected the Sun Pyramid orientation, while the southern part reflected the Ciudadela orientation. 

Its placement was because it was considered the place of human origin.

Recovered Artifacts: Pyramid Of The Sun

The destruction of the many parts of the pyramid, natural or deliberate, made it difficult to interpret the history of the abandoned city. However, certainly discovered artifacts have helped archeologists determine the origin of this pyramid 30 mi (48 km) away from Mexico City. 

While trying to discover and excavate the pyramid and the nearby Pyramid of the Moon, scientists have found only a few artifacts along with limited information. Archeologists have also discovered the burial sites of children at the corners of the pyramid.

They suggest that these burials were a part of the sacrificial ritual dedicated to building the pyramid.

During the early 1970s, studies carried out beneath the pyramid revealed a cave spread throughout the city. In the year 2011, archeologists are reported to have found a cache that contained pieces of clay pots, obsidian animal bones, greenstone human figurines, and a greenstone mask.

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