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Teotihuacan is the ruins of a colossal ancient city that flourished in the central Mexican highlands from around the turn of the Common Era. The "Avenue of the Dead" is the main thoroughfare forming the planned center of this city, stretching straight for approximately $4\text{ km}$ from north to south. The road is about $45\text{ m}$ wide, and its grandeur allows us to glimpse the immense power of the Teotihuacan civilization at the time. Construction of this road is believed to have begun around $150$ to $200\text{ CE}$.

This avenue connects the most significant structures in Teotihuacan: the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. Major religious and political facilities, such as the Pyramid of the Sun heading south from the Pyramid of the Moon, and further on, the Ciudadela (Citadel) containing the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, were systematically arranged along both sides of the avenue. These buildings are thought to have once been adorned with magnificent stucco and brightly colored murals.

The name "Avenue of the Dead" was given by the Aztec people who visited the site centuries after Teotihuacan was abandoned. This is because they mistakenly believed that the low, stepped platforms lining the avenue were the tombs of the former inhabitants. However, modern archaeological investigations have revealed that these structures were actually buildings and foundations used for sacrificial rituals, public gatherings, or even the palaces of the rulers. It is presumed that this avenue was not merely a thoroughfare for the citizens of Teotihuacan but a highly important sacred path where ritual processions and religious activities took place.

The Pyramid of the Sun is one of the principal structures in the ancient city of Teotihuacan, located in central Mexico. It stands on the eastern side of the "Avenue of the Dead," which runs north-to-south through the center of the city. It is a colossal five-tiered structure, approximately 65 meters (213 feet) high, with a base measuring about 222 to 225 meters (728 to 738 feet) per side. It is one of the largest pyramids in Mesoamerica and in the New World (the Americas).

Construction and Purpose

It is believed that the core structure of this pyramid was largely completed around 100 AD. Construction occurred in two phases, with the first phase bringing it close to its current size. A temple is thought to have once stood at the summit, but because it was destroyed before archaeological investigation could take place, it remains unclear which deity was worshipped there.

The name "Pyramid of the Sun" was given by the Aztecs, who visited the site centuries after Teotihuacan had declined and been abandoned; the original name used by the people who built Teotihuacan is unknown. Some archaeologists believe the pyramid was dedicated to a specific deity, but solid evidence supporting this is lacking.

Internal Discoveries

In the early 1970s, a tunnel-like cave was discovered beneath the pyramid. This cave is believed to be artificial, not natural, and may have been used for ritual purposes. Furthermore, the discovery of a child burial, believed to be a sacrifice, near the corners of the pyramid suggests that clues about the beliefs and rituals of the time are gradually being uncovered. These findings suggest that the pyramid was not just a massive construction but a site of significant religious importance.

The Pyramid of the Moon is one of the main structures of the Teotihuacan archaeological site, a World Heritage Site located about 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. This pyramid is situated at the northern end of the "Avenue of the Dead," the main street that runs north-south through the city, and is set against the backdrop of Cerro Gordo mountain, built to seemingly imitate the mountain's contours. The pyramid is approximately 47 meters tall with a base measuring about 130 meters north-south and 147 meters east-west, standing as a counterpart to the Pyramid of the Sun, the largest in Teotihuacan. Some theories suggest it was called "Tenan" (meaning "mother" or "stone") in the local Nahuatl language.

Construction of the pyramid began around 100 AD, and by approximately 450 AD, it had been enlarged by stacking seven layers. This construction process left older layers preserved within the pyramid's structure. The visible surface features the characteristic "talud-tablero" structure, which combines a sloping wall (talud) with an upright panel (tablero). A vast Plaza of the Moon extends in front of the pyramid, and in the center of the plaza is an altar with a unique structure, sometimes called the "Cross of Teotihuacan."

The Pyramid of the Moon was an important site for rituals in Teotihuacan. It is speculated to have been dedicated to the "Great Goddess," believed to be the goddess of water, fertility, the earth, and creation. Excavations conducted since the late 1990s have uncovered multiple tombs inside the pyramid, containing human remains believed to be sacrifices, the bones of animals such as wolves, jaguars, pumas, snakes, and birds, and offerings including over 400 jade and obsidian figurines, and ceremonial knives. These discoveries are invaluable evidence confirming the religious views, power structure, and the existence of sacrifice rituals in Teotihuacan at the time.