Mexico

Great Pyramid of Cholula

Pre-Hispanic pyramid complex in Puebla, Mexico

Location

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Historical Context

About

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 archaeological site of a pyramid (temple) in the world, as well as the largest pyramid by volume known to exist in the world today. The adobe brick pyramid stands 25 metres (82 ft) above the surrounding plain, which is significantly shorter than the Great Pyramid of Giza's height of 146.6 metres (481 ft), but much wider, measuring 300 by 315 metres (984 by 1,033 ft) in its final form, compared to the Great Pyramid's base dimensions of 230.3 by 230.3 metres (756 by 756 ft). The pyramid is a temple that traditionally has been viewed as having been dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl. The architectural style of the building was linked closely to that of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico, although influence from the Gulf Coast is evident as well, especially from El Tajín.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Initial construction begins

3rd century BCE

Abandonment during population decline

8th century CE

Major building phases complete

9th century CE

Toltec-Chichimec conquest and renaming

12th century

Spanish church constructed

1594

Adolph Bandelier's study

1881

First exploratory tunnelling begins

1931

Tunnel network measured

1954

Proyecto Cholula excavations

1966-1970

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

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Miscellaneous Features

Underground Tunnels
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Burial and Funerary Structures

PyramidsGravesCemeteries
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Religious and Ritual Structures

TemplesChurches
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Domestic and Habitation Structures

Cities
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Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial Mounds
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Transportation and Communication Structures

RoadsTrackways
Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

Reference

Details

Country

Mexico

Coordinates

19.06° N, -98.30° E