The view from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. The ruins along the Avenue of the Dead.With reasonable certainty, we can now say that the early part of the Teotihuacan culture played a significant role in Nephite history from about 50 BC to AD 400. In the Nahuatl (Aztec) language, the word for "god" is Teo. The interpretation of Teotihuacan is "the pathway that leads to the city of the Gods." Teotihuacan is located in the valley of Mexico about forty-five minutes northeast of Mexico City. Today, a community by the same name is near the ancient ruins. Often, the ruins are simply referred to as "the pyramids." The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon are the most imposing structures at Teotihuacan.
The valley of Mexico where present-day Mexico City is located has been the homeland of many civilizations, including the AD 1325-1521 Aztecs. However, from 150 BC to AD 750, the ceremonial center of Teotihuacan flourished.
The people who occupied the Teotihuacan city center date from about 150 BC to AD 750, although people obviously were in the Mexico valley both preceding and following the Teotihuacan period. The inhabitants of Teotihuacan were considered to be an ancient civilization by the thirteenth to sixteenth century AD Aztecs of Mexico City.
During Period III (AD 350-AD 600), the civil authorities of Teotihuacan, who became more militarily and economically oriented, began to enforce a more capitalistic system as opposed to the previous mystical and religious system. This new form of government was more interested in regional development than in building great temples to their gods. Such an interest does not mean that the priests lost their power. It only suggests that during Period III the priests did not have supreme control over the political and economic structure of the people of the Mexico valley as they did in Maya territory.
A type of humanism developed wherein a leadership combination evolved consisting of the priests and the wealthy merchants. This religious and civil combination became a magnificent epicenter, a type of civil mercantilism dedicated to human success as opposed to tall pyramids dedicated to gods (Ignacio Bernal, Guia Official: Teotihuacan (Mexico, DF: Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, 1985), 40-41).
This type of government is what Moroni must have been referring to when he wrote the following: "And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination. . . . And they have caused the destruction of this people [Jaredites] of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi" (Ether 8:18, 21). (See Exploring the Lands of the book of Mormon, page 201
The Pyramid of the Sun.
The valley of Mexico where present-day Mexico City is located has been the homeland of many civilizations, including the AD 1325-1521 Aztecs. However, from 150 BC to AD 750, the ceremonial center of Teotihuacan flourished.
The people who occupied the Teotihuacan city center date from about 150 BC to AD 750, although people obviously were in the Mexico valley both preceding and following the Teotihuacan period. The inhabitants of Teotihuacan were considered to be an ancient civilization by the thirteenth to sixteenth century AD Aztecs of Mexico City.
During Period III (AD 350-AD 600), the civil authorities of Teotihuacan, who became more militarily and economically oriented, began to enforce a more capitalistic system as opposed to the previous mystical and religious system. This new form of government was more interested in regional development than in building great temples to their gods. Such an interest does not mean that the priests lost their power. It only suggests that during Period III the priests did not have supreme control over the political and economic structure of the people of the Mexico valley as they did in Maya territory.
A type of humanism developed wherein a leadership combination evolved consisting of the priests and the wealthy merchants. This religious and civil combination became a magnificent epicenter, a type of civil mercantilism dedicated to human success as opposed to tall pyramids dedicated to gods (Ignacio Bernal, Guia Official: Teotihuacan (Mexico, DF: Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, 1985), 40-41).
This type of government is what Moroni must have been referring to when he wrote the following: "And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination. . . . And they have caused the destruction of this people [Jaredites] of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi" (Ether 8:18, 21). (See Exploring the Lands of the book of Mormon, page 201
The Pyramid of the Sun.
Closer view of the Pyramid of the Sun.
I made it to the top!
The large coutyard below the Pyrmaid of the Sun.
This a view of Bryce waiting at the bottom. He is the figure to the right.
Daniel and Melissa Johnson with the Pyramid of the Moon in the background. (Martin and Leslie Johnson's son and his wife.)
On the top of the Pyramid of the Sun: Elder Shumway, Elder & Sister Gribble.
Ancient painting of a Jaguar - still visible after thousands of years.
The Pyramid of the Moon
Looking up at the steep climb up the Pyramid of the Moon.QUESTIONS
1. What does the word "Teo" mean in the Nahuatl (Aztec) language?
God
2. What are the three interpretations or phrase that describe Teotihuacan?
the pathway that leads to the city of the Gods
3. In Mexico and anciently in Mesoamerica, travel is not calculated so much in distance, but because of the variety of terrain-mountains, jungles, lowlands, and so forth, is done by?
Days of travel.
4. In terms of direction from Mexico City, Cancun and the entire Yucatan peninsula is referred to as being in what direction from Mexico City?
5. Teotihuacan reached is highest population around AD 529, after the close of the Book of Mormon. It is estimated that the population was as high as:
a. 25,000
b. 50,000
c. 200,000
d. 60,000
6. During the time period of Teotihuacan Period III (AD 350 - AD 600), a great amount of trade activity took place throughout Mesoamerica. Trade goods from Teotihuacan, such as obsidian, as well as architectural features from Teotihuacan began showing up in places like:
a. Oaxaca (Monte Alban)
b. Guatemala City (Kaminaljuyu)
c. Peten (Tikal)
d. All of the above
7. A Maya king who was sent from Teotihuacan to Tikal and who may have been Lamanite king to whom Mormon wrote prior to the final battles at Cumorah was:
a. Yax Nuun Ayiin
b. Ce Acatl
c. Siyaj K'ak'
d. Atlatl Cauac
8. The name of the king at Tikal from the previous questions means:
a. Curl Snout
b. First Crocodile
c. Jaguar Paw
d. Fire is Born
9. The civilization of Teotihuacan was related to the Aztec in what manner?
a. They preceded the Aztecs
b. They followed the Aztecs
c. They existed at the same time as the Aztecs
d. They are the same people as the Aztecs
Looking down from the Pyramid of the Moon at Sister Kelly.
Looking down from the Pyramid of the Moon at the other climbers.
The Pyramid of the Sun from the Pyramid of the Moon. Notice the surrounding structures.This
Site layout
The city's broad central avenue, called "Avenue of the Dead" (a translation from its Nahuatl name Miccoatli), is flanked by impressive ceremonial architecture, including the immense Pyramid of the Sun (second largest in the New World after the Great Pyramid of Cholula) and the Pyramid of the Moon. Along the Avenue of the Dead are many smaller talud-tablero platforms. The Aztecs believed they were tombs, inspiring the name of the avenue. Now scholars have established these were ceremonial platforms that were topped with temples.[citation needed]
Further down the Avenue of the Dead is the area known as the Citadel, containing the ruined Temple of the Feathered Serpent. This area was a large plaza surrounded by temples that formed the religious and political center of the city. is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbian Americas. Apart from the pyramidal structures, Teotihuacan is also known for its large residential complexes, the Avenue of the Dead, and numerous colorful, well-preserved murals. Additionally, Teotihuacan produced a thin orange pottery style that spread through Mesoamerica.[
The city's broad central avenue, called "Avenue of the Dead" (a translation from its Nahuatl name Miccoatli), is flanked by impressive ceremonial architecture, including the immense Pyramid of the Sun (second largest in the New World after the Great Pyramid of Cholula) and the Pyramid of the Moon. Along the Avenue of the Dead are many smaller talud-tablero platforms. The Aztecs believed they were tombs, inspiring the name of the avenue. Now scholars have established these were ceremonial platforms that were topped with temples.[citation needed]
Further down the Avenue of the Dead is the area known as the Citadel, containing the ruined Temple of the Feathered Serpent. This area was a large plaza surrounded by temples that formed the religious and political center of the city. is an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbian Americas. Apart from the pyramidal structures, Teotihuacan is also known for its large residential complexes, the Avenue of the Dead, and numerous colorful, well-preserved murals. Additionally, Teotihuacan produced a thin orange pottery style that spread through Mesoamerica.[
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