Ancient pyramids in Mexico. Pyramids in Mexico and ancient Mayan cities

In the burial pit of one of the pyramids of Teotihuacan, researchers discovered the remains of twelve people. Their hands were tied behind their backs, ten of them were beheaded by the priests and carelessly thrown into the cell (perhaps they were enemies of the city). The remaining two were treated with respect: they were seated near the wall, wearing necklaces, jade jewelry and other signs indicating their high position. Why exactly they died, history is silent.

Teotihuacan is located in Mexico, 50 km from the capital Mexico City in northeast direction, on the territory of the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacan (on the map this city is located according to the following coordinates: 19° 41′ 30.01″ N, 98° 50′ 30.01″ W).

Currently, archaeologists consider Teotihuacan to be the first major city of both the South and North America: it was founded about two thousand years ago, its area occupied 28 km2, and from 100 to 200 thousand inhabitants lived on its territory. The original name of the settlement is unknown, but the modern name was given to it by the Aztecs, interpreting it as “the place where the gods touch the earth” - when they discovered the city, they were so amazed by the grandeur of the structures that they decided that it was built by gods or at least giants.

Teotihuacan appeared several centuries BC, and its heyday falls on the II-VI centuries. n. e. After the eruption of Mount Schitele, the inhabitants of Cuicuilco, ancient city valleys of Mexico City, left it and moved to Teotihuacan, thereby significantly increasing the settlement located there (one of the most mysterious facts from the life of this city is that scientists have not been able to establish what exactly the people living here were called).

Teotihuacan almost immediately became regional center and began to have a huge cultural influence on the entire region of Mesoamerica (the territory from the center of Mexico to Nicaragua) - traders came here, agreements were made, people came in search of work and to worship deities.

Throughout its existence, Teotihuacan was ruled by stern rulers, and the priests performed not only religious rituals, but also closely monitored the lives of the city’s inhabitants, exerting a very strong influence on their worldview and consciousness. Therefore, it is not surprising that everything local residents were deeply religious people: archaeologists have discovered altars even in the poorest houses of its inhabitants. The main deity was a god with the body of a snake, covered with bird feathers - Quetzalcoatl.

On religious holidays, almost all residents of nearby villages left their homes to take part in festivities and rituals that would contribute to the prosperity of the city and valley. The pyramids of Teotihuacan played an important role in these rituals: it was on their tops that the priests performed religious ceremonies.

What the City of the Gods looked like

The builders of Teotihuacan adhered to a very clear layout when constructing the city: a highway paved with volcanic stone called the Road of Death, the length of which exceeded five kilometers and the width was about forty meters, without turning, it went from south to north and crossed the central square, where the administrative buildings and several religious buildings.

The name of the street was given by the Aztecs because of the buildings located along it, which were extremely reminiscent of sacrificial altars, which in fact turned out to be the houses of local residents.

Side streets adjoined it at absolutely right angles, where both ordinary townspeople and representatives lived. local nobility. Ordinary residents lived in clay one-story houses, where there were no windows at all, so light and air entered the room only through doors that opened onto the courtyard.

The houses of the aristocrats were two-story, spacious and very beautiful. Thus, near the center of the city of Teotihuacan the palaces of Tetitla and Atetelco were located. They are notable for the fact that the frescoes that decorated the buildings in ancient times are extremely well preserved: more than 120 walls of Tetitla are decorated with drawings depicting the god of rain and thunder Tlaloc, and Atetelco's frescoes depict jaguars and coyotes.

At the very beginning of the city of Teotihuacan, the Citadel was located - a huge square that could accommodate about one hundred thousand people, along the perimeter of which there were fifteen small pyramids. In the center of the square is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the only pyramid in the city with bas-reliefs. From the citadel along the Death Road one could get to some of the most interesting pyramids Mexico, Pyramid of the Sun and Moon.

Pyramid of the Sun

The Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan was located near Mount Cerro Gordo, on the right side of the Road of Death, if you go from the Citadel. Currently, it is considered one of the largest pyramids in the world: its height is about 65 meters, and its base is only seven meters shorter than the base of the largest pyramid in the world and is 210 meters on each side. According to this indicator, the Pyramid of the Sun is the third on the planet, second only to the tomb of Cheops and the Great Pyramid of Cholulu.

The Pyramid of the Sun was built around 150 AD. and was a five-tiered structure, on top of which was a temple (you could climb 248 steps to it).

The construction of the pyramid took about 2.5 million bricks, a huge amount of clay and earth, and stone was used as external decoration, according to one version - red (this color was extremely popular among the local population).

The Pyramid of the Sun is not oriented strictly to the cardinal points, but makes a slight turn to the northwest, turning toward the place of sunset on August 12 and April 29 (August 12 is considered the first day of the Mayan calendar).

While exploring the structure, scientists were able to discover interesting fact: The Pyramid of the Sun was built over a cave, which was located at a depth of about six meters, and its width was about one hundred meters (apparently, before this structure was erected here, the city residents used the area for religious ceremonies).

At first, the researchers decided that the discovered cave was of natural origin, but Lately, based on archaeological excavations, they are inclined to believe that it was built by people and was the tomb of local rulers.

Pyramid of the Moon

At the end of the Death Road is the Pyramid of the Moon. The highway smoothly turns into steps leading to its upper platform, where ritual ceremonies were performed in honor of the moon goddess Chalchiuhtlicue. It is interesting that with its contours the Pyramid of the Moon follows the nearby Cerro Gordo Mountain, which some Indians called “Protective Stone”, others called “Mother”.

Despite the fact that the height of the structure is inferior to the Pyramid of the Sun and is 42 m, visually it is in no way inferior in size.

In the burial pit, researchers discovered human remains with tied hands, skeletons of animals and birds (coyotes, eagles, jaguars). It is not known exactly why they were sacrificed and left here. Archaeologists draw attention to the fact that human sacrifices were definitely performed during the reconstruction of the pyramid, and animals were totems of dead warriors.

Death of the city

One of the most intriguing mysteries of the City of the Gods is the question of why the inhabitants left Teotihuacan during its heyday - in the 7th century. AD Many researchers are convinced that the residents left it within 24 hours, taking all their belongings.

An interesting fact is that the city was completely destroyed: all the places where secret ritual gifts and tombs were located were plundered, and the sacred statues were mutilated and broken. Scientists put forward mainly three hypotheses of what happened: an invasion of enemy tribes or an uprising of the poor layers of society (but this theory is contradicted by the fact that no traces of violence against people were found in the city).

There is also a hypothesis that Teotihuacan fell victim to an epidemic that, like a plague, completely devastated the city. But this version also does not stand up to criticism, since no human remains or other evidence of the presence of a merciless disease were found.

When it comes to pyramids, most people immediately think of Egypt. But archaeologists have found many similar structures in America, or more precisely in Mexico. The Mexican pyramids, like the pyramids in Egypt, were built several thousand years ago and are also shrouded in an unsolved centuries-old mystery. An ordinary pyramid in Egypt is a huge structure made of stones, inside which is the tomb of the pharaoh. Internal passages lead to this most important part of the pyramid. The Mexican pyramid is a huge pedestal made of earth, on top of which there is a temple. You can reach the top via a long staircase. Unlike Egyptian pyramids, Mexican pyramids are not tombs, with a few exceptions.

Teotihuacan

This is one of the most famous and ancient cities in Mexico. Teotihuacan located northeast of the country's capital Mexico City, about 50 kilometers from it. Until now, this ancient city remains a mystery to archaeologists and anthropologists. The last builders left Teotihuacan several hundred years before the first Aztecs arrived here. The word "Teotihuacan" in the Nahuatl language means "city of the gods" or "city where the gods lived." There is an opinion that the name of the city was given by the Aztecs who arrived here.

As one of the magazine employees said, “ National Geographic», Teotihuacan was the very first real city in the entire Western Hemisphere. This city was founded somewhere at the beginning of our era or perhaps a little earlier. It existed for approximately 700 years and as a result has become a true legend today. The city's heyday occurred around the 6th century AD. e. At that time, its estimated population was about 200 thousand people.

In the very center of Teotihuacan there is a huge pyramid of the sun. It consists of five terraces, and its base measures 220x225 meters. Currently, the height of the pyramid is 63 meters. A long staircase with more than 240 steps leads to the top of the pyramid.
Not far from the city is the Pyramid of the Moon, which is about 40 meters high. In ancient times, both pyramids were temples.

Much more has been known about these pyramids in the last few decades. But at the same time, practically nothing is known about the Teotihuacans themselves, the way they organized society and what ultimately led to the decline of the huge city.

Other pyramids of Mexico

In the heart of Mexico's capital is the most important Aztec temple. There are no pyramids visible here, but if you look closely, you can see the remains of ancient pyramids that served as a pedestal for the main temple. Archaeologists discovered two altars at this site, where sacrifices were once performed.

Chichen Itza- This is one of the most visited pyramids by tourists in all of Mexico. This is the most easily accessible place among the ruins of the ancient Mayan settlements, since Chichen Itza is located on the Yucatan Peninsula near the city of Merida. Despite the fact that all these buildings are located in the territory of the Mayan tribe, the structure of their structure suggests that the Toltecs once had a strong influence here. There are also those that indicate the high level of knowledge of builders in the field of astronomy and mathematics.

In the city of Palenque in the Mexican state of Chiapas, tourists can look at a large complex of massive Mayan structures. Among large quantity buildings and pyramids - Temple of the Inscriptions and Palace. As stated in the book “3 thousand years of Mayan civilization,” the Temple of the Inscriptions is “one of the most famous temples in all of Mesoamerica, which, in addition to the pedestal, also has a tomb.”
Under the base of the temple there is a staircase along which you can reach the greatest tomb of the entire Mayan civilization. The tomb was built for Pakal, the ruler of the Mayan Empire, or Uoxok Aau, who lived in the 7th century.

These pyramids are just a small part of all the pyramids in Mexico. Many pyramids and their remains can also be found in many other areas of the country. In neighboring Honduras and Guatemala, there are also huge pyramids built from an unknown material, which was made by the ancient ancestors of the Mexicans using a special technology, because they obviously could not go and buy building mixtures. Based on the method of erecting these structures, we can conclude that the ancient inhabitants of Mesoamerica chose the most elevated places for their construction and held services there.

Step pyramids are an important part of the architecture of the peoples who once inhabited the territory of Mexico. The pyramids of Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal are the most popular among tourists. They are the ones that usually come to mind when mentioning Mexican pyramids. But there are many more ancient pyramidal structures on the territory of this country. Their creation in different time Different peoples were engaged in this, and, of course, they are all different from each other.

El Tajin arose during the heyday of the pre-Columbian Veracruz culture on the Gulf Coast near the present city of Poza Rica. On an area of ​​more than a thousand hectares there are multi-tiered pyramids, ball courts, statues depicting gods, dwellings of priests and Indian leaders. The heyday of the City of Thunder, as its name is translated from the Totonac language, occurred in the 9th-12th centuries. At that time it occupied an area of ​​more than 10 square kilometers, and its population was several thousand people.

In the center of the city there is a palace and temple complex, most of the buildings of which were erected between 600 and 900 AD. e. The El-Tahin pyramid or the Niche pyramid is dedicated to the supreme thunder god Tahin, the patron of rain. The seven-tier structure, whose height reaches 25 m, is decorated with deep niches running along the ledges.

At the base of the pyramid is a square with a side of 35 meters. All seven tiers of the pyramid have square niches, painted red on the inside and decorated with reliefs depicting snakes. There are 365 such niches. On the eastern slope there is a staircase decorated with mosaics and numbering 364 steps.

The city was destroyed at the beginning of the 13th century. The fire, as scientists suggest, forced residents of the city to leave it. Until the end of the eighteenth century, Europeans did not know about the existence of El Tajin. It was only in 1875 that the Pyramid of Niš was discovered by chance.

2 Tula

Tula is the ancient capital of the Toltecs, one of the main pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. It is usually identified with the mythical city of Tollan. Tula is located 65 km northwest of Mexico City on the banks of the river of the same name.

The most famous of the surviving structures is the Pyramid of the Morning Star, on the platform of which stands a group of five-meter stone sculptures of warriors who once supported the roof of the temple. At the entrance there are large statues of snakes.

In the 13th century, Tula was destroyed. The huge figures of warriors at the foot of the pyramid were ritually buried and thanks to this they have been preserved to this day.

3 Tzintzuntzan

The city of Tzintzuntzan was founded by the Purépecha people in the 13th century. In the same century, it became the capital of the state known among historians as Tarasco. The area of ​​the city was about 7 km². Ancient Tzintzuntzan is located on a slope, slightly higher than the modern city.

The ritual structure of the Purépecha people was a platform consisting of 10 steps (total height 13 m). Five stood on the platform burial pyramids, numbering 12 steps.

The Spaniards, who arrived in Tzintzuntzan in 1529, burned alive the ruler of Tangahuan II and destroyed the city in order to use its stones to build Catholic cathedrals and houses for the Spanish administration. But the pyramids have partially survived.

4 Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan is an abandoned city located 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City in the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacan. The pyramids of Teotihuacan are among the most famous Mexican pyramids. They are often called Aztec pyramids, although this is not true.

Very little is known about Teotihuacan. It was abandoned 700 years before the Aztecs arrived there in the 15th century and gave it its name. The first settlements were founded in these places in the 5th century BC, and in the 5th century AD Teotihuacan was largest city Central America. Modern researchers believe that the area of ​​this ancient settlement was 26−28 sq. km, and the population is about 200 thousand people.

Some of the main and oldest buildings of Teotihuacan are the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in the city of Teotihuacan and one of the largest in Mesoamerica. It is located on the Road of the Dead between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Citadel in the shadow of the massive Cerro Gordo mountain and is part of a large temple complex.

The pyramid is a 5-tier structure with a flat top, on which a small temple once stood. The height of the pyramid is almost 64.5 meters, the length of the base sides is 211, 207, 217 and 209 meters, overall volume— 993 thousand cubic meters. The Pyramid of the Sun is made of cobblestone, clay and earth, lined with stone. It is likely that the orientation of the pyramid has some anthropogolic significance. It is oriented with a slope to the northwest towards the point of sunset on the horizon, when twice a year - August 12 and April 29 - the calendar year of the Teotihuacan people was determined.

At the northern end of the Road of the Dead is the Pyramid of the Moon - an almost exact copy of the Pyramid of the Sun, but reduced by a third. Its height is 42 m, the base is 150 by 130 m. But due to the features of the relief, the tops of the pyramids are located on the same level.

5 Xochicalco

Xochicalco is an ancient pre-Columbian settlement in the western Mexican state of Morelos, located 25 km south of the city of Cuernavaca and 85 km south of Mexico City.

The main ceremonial center and residential buildings (most of which have not been excavated) are located on long terraces on the slopes of an artificially leveled hill. The settlement was first founded in 200 BC. e., but developed into an urban center only by the period 700 - 900 AD. e. Almost all surviving buildings were built during this period.

The settlement now contains the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, temples in the form of terraced pyramids, palaces, three ball fields, steam rooms, an unusual row of round altars and a cave with carved steps.

6 Cholula

Cholula is a city located in the Mexican state of Puebla. Cholula is home to the Toltec pyramid, also known as Tlachihualtepetl. This is the largest pyramid in terms of volume in Mexico, and in general in the world. The length of its base is 440 m, its height is 77 m.

The ancient pyramid is hidden under a layer of clay, making it look more like a natural mountain than an ancient place of worship. The Spaniards built a church on top of this hill. Holy Virgin Comforters.

Most of the Cholula Pyramid was built from unbaked bricks. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, archaeologists excavated and restored one side of the pyramid, which is lined with stone. Moreover, there are often inserts made of well-processed granite blocks with ornaments applied to them. Archaeologists also discovered tunnels running through the pyramid in various planes. Some of them are open to visitors.

7 Monte Alban

Monte Alban is a large pre-Columbian settlement in southeastern Mexico, in the state of Oaxaca. Situated on a low mountain ridge running through the central Oaxaca Valley.

The foundation of Monte Albana dates back to approximately the 4th century BC. e. At the time of its heyday (200−700 AD), the city occupied an area of ​​40 square meters. km, and its population exceeded 20 thousand people. On the artificially leveled giant square at the top of the hill, step pyramids still stand today. On the terraced slopes, the remains of palaces, steles with inscriptions, a 40 m wide stone staircase and other structures have been preserved. The walls of the buildings were decorated with mosaics, frescoes, and reliefs.

The main god of the local people was the rain god Cociho. The main pyramid of the city, crowning the top of the hill, was dedicated to him.

8 Palenque

Palenque is the largest ruin of an ancient Mayan city located in the northeastern Mexican state of Chiapas. More than a thousand buildings have been discovered here, only some of them have been studied and restored in detail.

The Spaniards named the city Palenque; in Mayan times it was called Lakam-ha - “Big Water”. Originating around 100 AD. e., the settlement reached its peak in the period from 630 to 740. After 900 Palenque was deserted. The surrounding area is known for the highest level of precipitation in Mexico, due to which the city gradually disappeared behind dense tropical thickets and fell into oblivion until 1746, when it was discovered by the Spaniards.

In the center of the settlement, on a ten-meter platform, rises a palace that served as the residence of local rulers. This is a majestic structure with an area of ​​104x80 m, consisting of galleries, stairs, intricate labyrinths underground passages and many rooms with exits to four courtyards.

To the southeast of the palace is the Palenque Triad, which includes the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross, and the Temple of the Foliated Cross. All these names are given religious buildings, thanks to the motifs that prevail in the painting of their walls and altars.

Also in close proximity to the palace is the Temple of the Inscriptions. Exactly this high building complex, the height of its pyramid is 23 m, and to get to its top you need to overcome 69 steps.

9 Comalcalco

Comalcalco - former city Mayan civilization, located approximately 60 km northeast of the city of Villahermosa in the Mexican state of Tabasco.

Comalcalco is home to the westernmost of the Mayan temples. Due to the shortage of limestone, buildings in this city were constructed from baked bricks, which were held together with lime mortar from ground oyster shells.

The buildings mainly date from the Late Classical period, 700–900. n. e. Many bricks are decorated with images. The most famous buildings: the northern square, the Great Acropolis and the Eastern Acropolis pyramids.

10 Calakmul

Calakmul was a formerly powerful Mayan city, the capital of the Kanul kingdom. Located in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the Peten Basin region. The heyday of Calakmul falls between 200 and 700 AD. e.

In 1931, Calakmul was discovered by the American Cyrus Lundell. Calakmul occupied an area of ​​​​approximately 30 km² and consisted of more than 100 large buildings, and the total number of buildings was about 5000. Among the structures, two pyramids, commonly called “Structure I” and “Structure II”, 45 m high, dominate. great pyramid has a side length of 140 m.

11 Etzna

Etzna is an archaeological site of the Mayan culture in the north of the Mexican state of Campeche. The city was already inhabited in 400 BC. BC, and was abandoned around 1500 AD. e. In the late classical period, Etzna was part of the state of Calakmul. The city was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century.

The classical period of Etzna's existence occurred, as elsewhere in Yucatan, in 600−900 AD. It was then that the most significant architectural monuments of this city were born. Among them - main temple, standing on a pyramidal base forty meters high.

The city stood on a swamp. The Indians did a great job of draining the area, building a complex and extensive system of canals and reservoirs.

12 Uxmal

Uxmal is a large Mayan city in the north-west of the Yucatan Peninsula, 68 km south of the city Merida.

Uxmal was inhabited in the 8th century BC. e., at the peak of power (about 800−900 AD) had about 25,000 inhabitants. It was during this period that most of the surviving monuments were built. But the prosperity did not last long. When, at the turn of the 10th-11th centuries, the Toltecs took control of the Yucatan Peninsula, construction in Uxmal ceased, and the city began to decline. And shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, it was completely abandoned.

Pyramid of the Magician - the tallest monument (35 m) and the main attraction archaeological complex Uxmal. It is also called the Dwarf's Pyramid. Both names come from the legend of a magical dwarf. Hatching from the egg, he became an adult in one day and built this pyramid in one night. In fact, archaeological excavations show that the Pyramid of the Magus was built in five stages of construction on top of previously built pyramids. Beginning in the 6th century, it regularly increased in height until the 10th century.

13 Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza - political and Cultural Center Maya in the northern Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Located 120 km east of the city of Merida.

The city of Chichen Itza was probably founded around 455. It can be conditionally divided into two groups. The first includes buildings dating from the 6th-7th centuries. n. e. and dating back to the Mayan period. The second group of buildings dates back to the Toltec period of the 10th-11th centuries. n. e.

The city was captured by the Toltecs in the 10th century. In the middle of the 11th century, Chichen Itza became the capital of the Toltec state. In 1178 it was defeated by the united army of three city-states - Mayapan, Uxmal and Itzmal. By the time of the Spanish conquest, Chichen Itza was a ruin.

El Castillo (aka the Pyramid of Kukulcan) was the main structure of the city. The pyramid with a square base has nine steps. Leading to the top are four staircases bordered by a balustrade, which begin on the ground floor in the form of a slightly raised snake's head and continue on their way like a snake's body to the upper floor. Each staircase consists of 91 steps, and if the number of steps is multiplied by the number of stairs, then the result is 364 steps and the 365th step at the top of the pyramid symbolizes the last day of the past year. At the top there is a temple, the entrance to which, decorated with columns in the form of snake bodies, is located on the north side.

East of El Castillo is another famous structure of Chichen Itza: the Temple of the Warriors. It consists of four platforms, surrounded on three sides by round and square columns. The square columns are carved in the shape of Toltec warriors. During the restoration, some of the columns were restored and put in their original place. At the top of the Temple of Warriors there is a sculpture of Chaak-Mool in the shape of a reclining man.

The observatory is another famous attraction of Chichen Itza. The Spanish word El Caracol means "spiral staircase" (it is located inside). Through holes in the walls of the tower, Mayan astronomers observed the movements of Venus, the Sun, the Moon and other celestial bodies, calculated spring and autumn days equinox, summer solstice. The Mayan astronomical skills even helped predict solar eclipses.

In ancient times, Mexico was inhabited by the ancestors of the Nahua Indian tribes, who belonged to the Uto-Aztecan group. We know little about them: they worshiped gods and sang the praises of jaguars. It was they who created the culture in the 3rd millennium BC, the legacy of which became famous city Teotihuacan.

History and legend of Teotihuacan

When the Aztecs came to these lands, on the site of Teotihuacan there were only thickets and two huge pyramids. They learned from the local Nahua Indians that it was in this place that the Sun and Moon were born.

According to legend, there used to be eternal darkness in the world. To solve this problem, the gods gathered for a council in this place. The first of those who wanted to illuminate the world was Tecusiztecatl. Others abstained from this right. Nanahuatzin was chosen as the second god. The gods lit a fire into which the chosen ones had to enter. Tecusiztecatl was afraid of the hot fire, but the cool-headed Nanahuatzin did it. After reflection, Tecusiztecatl was able to overcome everything and completed the path of god. Nanahuatzin was reborn as the Sun, and Tecusiztecatl as the Moon. In honor of this event, people built pyramid temples on this site.

From the language of the Nahua people, Teotihuacan is translated as “place of transformation of the gods.” Research says that the city was founded around the 1st century AD, and by the 5th century it had flourished and become the largest city in America. The size of this ancient city of the American continent before the coming of Columbus can be surprising - with an area of ​​20 square kilometers, it contained a population of 200 thousand inhabitants.

Pyramids and other buildings of Teotihuacan

Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan

As a memory from this era, many buildings have come to us, scattered over a vast territory. So in the center of the city there are two intersecting streets oriented to the cardinal points. Teotihuacan's famous Road of the Dead stretches in a north-south direction. At its northern end there is a temple-pyramid of the Moon, consisting of five tiers with a flat top. The base of the pyramid is 150 by 130 meters, height is 42 meters.

Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan

To the east of the street is the main attraction - the Sun Temple. Its base is already 240 by 255 meters, and the total height reaches 72 meters. The sanctuary, located in former times at the top of the temple, has not reached us. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third tallest pyramid in the world. The Temple of the Sun is very significant for Mexico and is depicted on many objects.

Other structures

Along the street itself there are many other less significant buildings. Here is the temple of the rain god Tlaloc, who was especially worshiped by the locals, the Temple of Agriculture, and Ciutadella can be especially highlighted.

The Ciutadella is a huge platform 400 meters long. On one side there is a staircase leading up to it, and in the general plan it is adjacent to four smaller platforms, oriented according to the cardinal directions, on each of which there are four pyramids. In the central square is the Temple of Quetzalcoatl - a six-tiered pyramid decorated with snake heads, which are a symbol of Quetzalcoatl or the Feathered Serpent.

feathered serpent

To the west of the Ciutadella is the Great Complex - a square with platforms and buildings. Researchers have suggested that the Ciutadella could serve as the central palace of the ruler, and the Great Complex as a market.

The Street of the Dead is almost perfectly crossed by other avenues, dividing the city into even blocks lined with buildings and palaces. Many frescoes were found here, depicting in addition to divine characters and ordinary warriors. Other finds also strengthen the version of the important influence of warriors on the life of the city and their relationship to the nobility.

Adjacent to the rich district of palaces is a district of merchants and artisans. Teotihuacan was a large shopping center. More than 600 workshops have been found here, producing everything imaginable for the time. Of course, not the entire city was classified as craftsmen and warriors; the bulk of it was represented by ordinary farmers.

The death of the city dates back to 450-650 AD. It is assumed that he died quickly, perhaps due to the Toltec invasion. After this conquest, the city plunges into complete oblivion, and only the huge pyramids of the Teotihuacan temple ensemble forever preserve the secret of the place where the Sun and Moon originated.

Mexico is the country with the largest number of ancient ruins, many of which are the subject of constant archaeological research to reveal to us, hidden for centuries under a dense blanket of dense jungle. The provinces of Chiapas, Yucatan and Quintana Ru are known for their archaeological areas with the ruins of Mayan cities, open to tourists.

Palenque

Located in tropical forest In the province of Chiapas, near the Usumacinta River, the ruins of the city of Palenque are impressive for their size and the splendor of the surviving buildings. At 15 sq. km found on this moment more than a thousand buildings. The archaeological zone includes the “Temple of the Sun”, “Temple of the Cross”, “Temple of the Inscriptions”, palace ruins and many other buildings. Particularly noteworthy is the “Temple of the Inscriptions”, where a sarcophagus was found with the burial of one of the greatest rulers of Palenque - Pacal. The bas-reliefs on the walls of the palace and the decoration of the ball field are amazing. Palenque is considered the most beautiful and impressive museum under open air in Mexico. Whether it's ancient symbols or examples of Mayan art, the ruins of Palenque will certainly give you insight into the development of the Mayan civilization.

How to get there: It is not difficult to get to this archaeological zone. You can take a regular bus to the modern city of Palenque, and from there by another bus to the archaeological complex itself - 10 minutes. Or take a tour offered by your tour operator, which may be a little more expensive, but definitely more comfortable.

Yaxchilan

The ruins of the Mayan city of Yaxchilan are located a 4-hour drive from Palenque, on the border with Guatemala in the heart of the jungle, on the banks of the Usumacinta River. Yaxchilan is a truly inexhaustible storehouse of a huge number of monuments of architecture and writing of the Mayan people, a significant part of which is exhibited in National Museum Anthropology in Mexico City. Yaxchilan was considered one of the most influential cities in the kingdom of Pachan and rivaled Palenque in influence.

A trip to Yaxchilan will give unforgettable experience to all connoisseurs ancient history- walls painted with hieroglyphs, reflecting important events of the kingdom, altars and steles, ancient temples will not leave anyone indifferent. A untouched nature Surrounding the ruins, with an incredible array of birds, reptiles and howler monkeys, it creates a backdrop that will take your breath away.

How to get there: First by bus, then half an hour by boat along the Usumacinta River, which separates Mexico and Guatemala to the archaeological zone of Yaxchilan.

Chichen Itza ​​

Chichen Itza attracts travelers from all over the world as one of the largest archaeological parks on the Yucatan Peninsula with famous pyramid Kukulkan, recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The complex is located on an area of ​​2.5 sq km and is visited daily by about 10,000 tourists, mainly from the nearby seaside resort Cancun.

The most famous structure is the 24 m high Kukulkan pyramid with 365 steps on four sides. Unfortunately, the climb to the pyramid is closed. But there will still be time to see: the Red House, the House of the Deer, the monastery and its annexes, the church, Akab Dzib, the Temple with three lintels and the Pali House, a huge ball field, as well as a deep ritual well of the cenote, which was used for sacrifices to the god rain to Tlaloc.

How to get there: from Cancun 195 km on a good road, travel time about 2 hours.

Bonampak

Located in the state of Chiapas, the former Mayan city of Bonampak is popular for its preserved frescoes and Temple of the Paintings. The frescoes are recognized as the best found in the Mayan world and for their sake we suggest visiting this archaeological zone, although it will seem small to you compared to Yaxchilan.

How to get there: When traveling to Yaxchilan, as a rule, all excursions include a visit to Bonampak. We would not recommend getting there on your own, unless you take along local Indians who know their roads well.

Koba

Coba is the second most visited ruins of the ancient Mayan city in the province of Quintana Ru (after Tulum). Access to the main pyramid of the city, 42 meters high, is still allowed, and if you want to enjoy climbing the pyramid under the scorching tropical sun, then it’s worth coming here!

However, the main vast area of ​​the Coba archaeological zone is immersed in the jungle, through which you can walk from one structure to another or use tourist trains or rented bicycles. On this long walk you can see not only the picturesque ruins, but also admire the beautiful cenotes and the lush vegetation around them.

How to get there: Cancun and Riviera Maya resorts offer excursions, often combining visits to Coba and Tulum. Distance 173 km. There are also regular buses from the bus stations in Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Tulum

Tulum is famous as the only known Mayan city built on the shore Caribbean Sea. It is also the only Mayan city surrounded by a wall. Typically, the Mayans did not fortify their city-states or build fortifications. The wall was built at the end of the city's existence as a defensive measure against attacks by nomadic peoples from the north, which were very common at that time.

Here you can not only discover the Temple of the Frescoes and the elegantly carved stone pyramid of El Castillo, but also enjoy magnificent views of the ruins of the city against the backdrop of the calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. This archaeological zone ranks first among tourists in terms of attendance in the province of Quintana Ru and third in the entire country after Chichen Itza and Teotihuacan. Therefore, we recommend visiting it in the first hours after opening.

How to get there: Tulum is located 180 km from Cancun and only 60 kilometers from the “capital” of the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen. From Cancun Airport, ADO buses depart 3 times a day to the city of Tulum, and from there you can take a taxi to the archaeological zone, travel time is 2 hours. From resort town Playa del Carmen to Tulum can be reached by bus or collective (local minibus) in an hour.

USHMAL

The ruins of the once huge Mayan city of Uxmal are characterized by architectural splendor and stand on a par with Chichen Itza and Tikal. This archaeological zone is located relatively close to Chichen Itza and the city of Merida. The complex is spread over an area of ​​150 hectares.

Of interest is the inspection of the Pyramid of the Magician, unconventional in its design, the Monastery Square, Great Pyramid and "dovecotes". The ruins of Uxmalai are characterized by distinctive ornamental decoration compared to the rest of the Mayan ruins. Well-preserved columns, complex ornamental patterns, figurines of birds and animals, and decorative elements are visible everywhere. From the top of the Great Pyramid there is a panoramic view of Uxmal and the lush jungle that embraces it.

How to get there: From Mérida to Uxmal you can take a bus from the central bus station. Travel time is 1 hour 10 minutes. The bus stops right next to the entrance to the complex.

• Wear comfortable shoes, because in most cases you will be walking through the jungle, in a tangle of roots and vines, and will also have to climb the stairs of the pyramids.
• In our rating we mentioned the possibility of getting to the ruins on your own, but We recommend that the first time you visit a Mayan ruin, you do so with a guide because he will tell interesting things about these archaeological excavations, often not listed in guidebooks.
• Use mosquito repellents while in the jungle.
• Do not forget sun cream with good protection, after all, walking in open areas, especially in Chichen Itza or Tulum, can lead to burns.