How would you describe the city of Teotihuacan?

Answer 1

It was a large city in Mexico some 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of today's Mexico City. Commonly mistaken to have been built by Aztecs, or being destroyed by Spanish conquistadors during the 16th century, this is not the case. It was home to 200,000 people during the 5th to 6th centuries - much earlier than Aztecs, who founded their capital 800 years later. Finally, it was attacked, sacked and burned by Toltec invaders during the 7th to 8th centuries.

From the ancient city, only the great pyramids and temples persist, due to their building materials which include volcanic rock. Also the general layout, including the foundations of ancient Teotihuacan dwellings is still found.

Please follow related links for images of Teotihuacan.

Answer 2

Commonly mistaken to have been built by the Aztecs, Teotihuacan was founded around 200 BC -- Aztecs didn't appear until 1325 AD -- by an unknown civilization. In fact, the Aztecs named it Teotihuacan ("city of the gods") because at the time of its discovery, it was already abandoned.

Nowadays, it is an archaeological site visited by many people from around the world; it layout includes a main avenue, known as the "avenue of the dead", with several pyramids on its sides, including the Pyramid of the Sun (third largest in the world). At the end of the avenue you can find the citadel, which includes the ruins of the Feathered Serpent.