Great Pyramid of Cholula

The Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl (Nahuatl for "constructed mountain"), is a complex located in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. It is the largest pyramid in the world by size.

The adobe brick pyramid stands 25 metres (82 ft) above the surrounding plain. It is shorter than the Great Pyramid of Giza but much wider. The pyramid is a temple linked to the god Quetzalcoatl. Its architectural style shows connections to Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico, with some influence from the Gulf Coast, especially from El Tajín.

Location and etymology

The Cholula archaeological zone is about 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) west of the city of Puebla, in the city of Cholula. The pyramid is in the San Andrés Cholula, Puebla area, marking the center of the city. The city is split into two parts called San Andrés and San Pedro. This split happened long ago when the Toltec-Chichimeca people took over the city.

The Toltec-Chichimeca people called the city Tlachihualtepetl, which means "artificial hill." The name Cholula comes from an old Nahuatl word Cholollan, meaning "place of refuge".

History

The Great Pyramid was a very important religious place a long time ago, before Spain came to Mexico. Over many years, people added to the pyramid until it became the biggest pyramid in Mexico by size.

It was built between the year 300 BC and the year 900 AD and was dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl. The pyramid is very wide, measuring 300 by 315 metres, but it is not very tall, only 25 metres high. It is the largest pyramid in the world by size, even bigger than the famous pyramid in Egypt.

Even after many people left the city, the pyramid stayed important for religious reasons. Today, the pyramid looks like a natural hill because a church was built on top of it. The church is still visited by many people, and the place is used for special ceremonies. Because the church is important, the whole pyramid has not been fully uncovered like other pyramids. There are tunnels inside the pyramid that archaeologists have explored.

Pyramid

The pyramid has six layers, each built by a different group of people. Only three layers have been studied well. The pyramid is part of an ancient city about 154 hectares big. Building began during the Preclassic Period and was added to six times. It is 300 by 315 metres wide and 25 metres tall. Its base covers 94,500 square meters, almost twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It has the largest pyramid base in the Americas.

The earliest building shows architecture linked to the city of Teotihuacan. Some constructions include burials with skeletons and offerings, especially ceramics. In colonial times, parts of the pyramid were damaged to build roads and rail lines.

Excavation history

The first study of the pyramid was done by Adolph Bandelier in 1881. He focused on uncovering burials and collecting skulls. Bandelier also measured the structure and made early plans of the site.

The pyramid was excavated in two main phases. The first began in 1931 and continued into the 1950s. The second phase started in 1966 and ended in 1970. Explorations began in 1931 under architect Ignacio Marquina, who dug tunnels to explore the layers beneath the pyramid. These tunnels mapped the pyramid’s layers. The base was made of sun-dried adobe bricks with ceramic, obsidian, and gravel. The tunnels created an underground network, showing the pyramid’s true value.

During the first excavations, sixteen holes were dug to collect ceramic materials and establish a timeline. Findings included clay figures from early settlements, tools for making textiles, and a ceremonial scepter carved from bone. The second round of excavations, called Proyecto Cholula, took place from 1966 to 1974. This project focused on studying the pyramid and its surroundings. Despite efforts, the pyramid remains less studied compared to others like Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza.

Elements

Excavations have revealed about eight kilometers of tunnels inside the pyramid. Today, about 800 meters of these tunnels are open to the public. Entrances to the pyramid are on the north side, leading through the center and exiting on the south. Inside, there are few signs, but one section shows the main staircases of one of the pyramids, with nine excavated floors. Two famous murals are also present: one called "Chapulines" showing grasshoppers with a black skull, and another called "Bebedores" depicting figures drinking from vessels.

The Courtyard of Altars, found during excavations from 1967 to the 1970s, is a large area with several altars. It was used for important ceremonies and rituals. The walls of the courtyard have painted decorations, including symbols and colors like red, blue, yellow, and black. Four altars were excavated, each with unique decorations. One altar has feathered serpents, while another features geometric designs.

Building A or La Conejera

Building A, also called La Conejera, is the earliest version of the pyramid, discovered in the 1950s. It is a simple structure with an adobe core, built around 200 BC. It has a wall topped with a cornice and a two-story chamber. Steps lead to a hallway on the west side. The base, cornice, and chamber were painted, with some black and white squares still visible.

Building B or Pyramid of the Painted Skulls

Building B, known as the Pyramid of the Painted Skulls, was built between 200 and 350 AD. It has seven levels and was decorated with murals. The walls had paintings of skulls, painted yellow and red on a black background, with decorative markers indicating directions. An important find was the Altar of the Sculpted Skulls, located in the northeast patio area, featuring three clay skulls and grave goods, suggesting it was a mausoleum.

Building C or the Pyramid of the Nine Stories

Building C, the Pyramid of the Nine Stories, was constructed over Building B between 350 and 450 AD. It is larger than the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan and has nine levels. The pyramid was built using adobe and finished with rock and stucco for durability. It features stairways on all four sides. Associated with it is the Jaguar Altar, which has evidence of decoration, including paintings of a jaguar and serpents.

Courtyard of Altars

The Courtyard of Altars is a complex area next to the south side of the pyramid, discovered during excavations in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It includes several altars and structures, used for ceremonies and rituals. The area has wide taluds decorated with moldings and painted with aquatic symbols and bands of red, blue, yellow, and black. Mural work in this area includes geometric patterns and the Mural of the Drinkers, which shows figures participating in a ceremony involving a drink called pulque.

Building D

Building D is located on the south side of the Pyramid of the Nine Stories. It has pyramid-like levels with painted taluds and tableros. The murals on the tableros have no figures, and the cornices are painted black. The building was constructed over an area filled with stone pieces painted in red, ochre, and green.

Building I

Building I was found during early excavations in the second round, mostly by Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. Located on a platform attached to the southwest side of the pyramid, it has four entrances and contained three burials. The ceramics found with these burials are similar to those from the Altar of the Sculpted Skulls, dating the structure to late in Cholula’s pre-Hispanic period.

Building F

Building F dates from the next to last building phase of the pyramid, between 500 and 700 AD. It is a stone stairway with three levels and large taluds facing west. The tableros are decorated with a motif resembling a woven palm mat. The structure has been reconstructed and is sometimes called the Tolteca pyramid. It has yielded many ceramic figurines and vessels. Some paint fragments remain, but much of the decoration has deteriorated.

Burials

When people were digging at the Great Pyramid, they found more than 400 human remains. Most of these were from a later time, after the pyramid was no longer a temple but was still used for important ceremonies.

Some of the remains showed that these people were part of special rituals. In one area, remains of children were found in ceramic pots, likely linked to the rain god. Other remains were found near an altar and included people of different ages and both genders.

Current importance

The Great Pyramid of Cholula is very important today. It is a special place for people in Cholula. They use it for religious events, learning about history, and attracting visitors. Many people visit each year.

Before Spanish explorers came, the pyramid was a sacred place for a rain goddess named Chiucnāuhquiyahuitl, meaning "Nine Rain." Later, people honored the Virgin of the Remedies there. The Spanish built a church on top of the pyramid for this purpose. The pyramid still holds its sacred meaning.

Two big yearly events happen here. On September 8, many gather to honor the Virgin of the Remedies. Another event called the “Bajada” happens in May and June. There is also a spring equinox celebration called the Quetzalcoatl ritual, featuring poetry, traditional dances, and fireworks.

The pyramid is a top tourist spot in Cholula. Visitors can explore tunnels inside the pyramid, see important structures, and visit a nearby museum. Only part of the tunnels is open to the public.

To protect the pyramid, special measures are in place. Police help keep vehicles away, and some big fireworks are not allowed. Some land around the pyramid has been turned into green spaces.