Great Pyramids of Cholula
The Great Pyramids of Cholula are located in the small town of Cholula. Cholula was once a large city and the religious center of the Aztec Empire. It is believed to be the sister city of Teotihuacan, another important Aztec city. The pyramid first began being built around 200 BC. It was built as a dedication to the god Quetzalcoatl. It has been rebuilt or added onto 4 different times between 200 BC and 900 AD.
The base of the pyramid is 450 meters by 450 meters and the height of this magnificent pyramid is 66 meters tall. At the top is a church. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the largest pyramid and the largest monument ever constructed in the world. The total volume is estimated at over 4.45 million cubic meters, which is even larger than that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, which is about 2.5 million cubic meters. The pyramid can be approached from any direction as it has stairs coming up all four sides.
In 1200 AD the Toltecs conquered this region and turned the Temple of Quetzalcoatl into their ceremonial center. In 1359, the kingdom of Huexotzingo (enemies of the Aztec) took over Cholula. By the time the Spanish conquered Cholula the pyramid had been a ruin for so long that they though it was just a very large grassy hill. Today archaeologists have dug five miles of tunnels underneath the pyramid that are free for visitors to explore.
Comments