Not only does it contain eerie secrets, but the Moon Pyramid in Teotihuacan also hides astonishing details about an ancient astronomical observatory.
Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, the Moon Pyramid in the ancient city of Teotihuacan is not merely a tomb, according to recent research cited by Heritage Daily.
The Moon Pyramid was constructed during Phase II (100 – 350 AD) of the Teotihuacan metropolis, coinciding with a population boom and a series of remarkable constructions.
Moon Pyramid in Teotihuacan – (Image: HERITAGE DAILY).
The Sun Pyramid, the Avenue of the Dead, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl were also built during this period. After more than 1,900 years, they still stand tall in the ancient city.
A new study by the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH), in collaboration with Tepeyac University and the National School of Anthropology and History (ENAH), has uncovered a new secret of the Moon Pyramid: It marks the astronomical orientation axis of Teotihuacan.
The peaks of the pyramid are aligned to the Northeast with the sunrise at the summer solstice and to the Southwest with the sunset at the winter solstice.
On the longest day of the year (summer solstice), from the top of the Moon Pyramid, the sun appears at dawn over the Xihuingo volcano, which has long been known as an observatory for calibrating the calendar.
The volume of this structure also aligns with certain cosmic ratios, while its façade, in conjunction with the façades of several other buildings, creates the image of a vertical axis.
The layout of the entire urban area also shows correspondence with various astronomical criteria, suggesting that beyond the Moon Pyramid, several other structures may also be part of a larger network-like astronomical observatory.
This discovery adds to the growing evidence of how the Toltec people—the masters of the ancient city of Teotihuacan—had an astonishing civilization.
Previously, in 2018, another survey by INAH uncovered a secret underground chamber beneath the Moon Pyramid, containing the remains of individuals with deformed skulls.
This may symbolize a brutal ancient ritual that scientists still do not fully understand.
