At the beginning of time, when nothing was as we know him today, the gods gathered around the sun. When they all took their place, let’s say the Ancient ScripturesThey sat down and decided to create the world. Many attempts have been made; Many beings have been created and destroyed. After many efforts, Quetzalcóatl, the god snake in feathers, participated in the underworld to speak in Mictlantecuhtli, the Lord of the Dead, who had the last bone of the cosmos, was to create the perfect being.
They settled that the bone should be divided in two, so that each of them could keep part for themselves. Quetzalcóatl returned to the other gods with the coveted bone piece, which they finally used to create the first human beings. In their honor, when several men and women were created, the newly born humans have built a holy city. This is how, according to Mexico, which has discovered the city abandoned for a long time when they have emigrated to central Mexico, the magnificent Teotihuacán has become.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History (In) The recordings suggest that this archaeological site in the state of current Mexico was built around the year 200 BCE. At the very beginning, agricultural communities occupied it and built its foundations. However, they quickly established commercial relations with neighboring cities, which ultimately became the largest commercial meso-American network. Archaeological remains to show That this interregional trade has reached the Mayans and had a major political influence in the Yucatán peninsula during the periods of preclassical and classic Maya.
We do not know how the inhabitants of Teotihuacán called themselves: the name of the city, translated by “where the gods were created” or “where men have become gods”, was given to him by the Aztecs who found him 1000 years after his foundation. But the Teotihuacanos have built the largest city in the old Meso-American, the cultural region extending from the current center of Mexico to Costa Rica. With an area of more than 22 square kilometers, Teotihuacán “was one of the cultural centers in the region”, say the authorities of Inah, and had “stylistic and architectural influences” which reached Mayans in Guatemala and Honduras.
Why can people no longer climb pyramids?
Mexicans today have a shared fear for the ruins of Teotihuacán. I first went to the site when I was a child, climbing the pyramid of the sun and crying for fear of falling when we had to go down the pyramid 238 steps.
The children today, unfortunately, will not have the same memories as me. In 2020, INAH authorities announced a new ban: visitors would no longer be authorized to climb the structures of the complex.
“Neither the shoes nor the number of visitors (some days have seen 15,000 visitors daily) were the same,” wrote Alejandro Alcolea, journalist and editor XATAKA Mexico.
The decision was made to preserve old structures, as happened in other archaeological sites, such as Chichen Itzá. Although the Pyramids of Teotihuacán were largely rebuilt after excavation at the beginning of the 20th century, their preservation is a priority for INAH, and the safety of visitors is also a consideration.
Researchers and the press need a special authorization to take photos of the pyramid or conduct an activity on the structures. Heavy fines are imposed on those who violate these restrictions.
Depending on the severity of the driving, the fines extend from 500 to 100,000 pesos depending on how the structure has been badly damaged and irreparable damage is liable by prison terms. The offenders also faced angry crowds: on March 20, a German visitor who has climbed the Kukulkán temple in Chické itzáYucatán was hue and struck by other tourists who had gathered to look at the Solstice from spring to the complex before being placed in police custody by officers of the National Guard.
You can always see Teotihuacán high
If you really want to see the Teotihuacán from above and you are not afraid of the heights, you always have options, namely a hot air ball stroll over the ruins. Nothing is compared to the view of the Teotihuacán valley in Sunrise in a cold morning.
Prices start at 2,300 pesos, and you can enjoy the best panoramic view of the site. You can consult the packages and experiences at TripadvisorAnd best choose your needs.
In any case, you must be an upset. Activities start early, and you usually have to be present in San Juan Teotihuacán at 5 am, the longest journey lasts about 3 hours, but you can still choose shorter versions.
If you do the balloon in a hot air balloon, prepare yourself! The mornings are generally cold, so be advised to bring a jacket with you, and a sunscreen too, because the sun is heavy as the day continues. While Dawn breaks, you will surely have a look at Mighty Quetzalcoatl, arrows among the clouds.
Andrea Fischer contributes to the office of the features of Mexico News Daily. She edited and wrote for National Geographic in Spanish And Very interesting MexicoAnd continues to be a defender of everything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.
