The Great Pyramid of Cholula The structure, known variously as the Great Pyramid of Cholula, Piramide Tepanapa, or Tlachihualtepetl, or "artificial mountain" in the indigenous Nahuatl language, measures 400 by 400 metres and has a total volume of 4.45 million cubic metres, nearly twice that of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is also taller at 63 metres than Giza's 49 metres. The pyramid was built over a period of approximately 70 years (1510-1530), during the early Spanish conquest of Mexico. According to some sources, it was built as a tribute project to the Emperor Moctezuma II by the local ruler Cacaxuego. However, other historians believe that the pyramid was constructed by the Toltecs.
Cholula is a large city in Puebla state in central Mexico. At the time of its founding, it was part of the Aztec empire but is now considered a separate town. The exact date of its foundation is not known but it may have been as early as 1450 AD. The pyramid itself is not the only thing that makes this site special. Just outside the city walls, there are still many tombs belonging to the rich members of the ancient Mexica tribe. Some of these graves are larger than life sizes!
The pyramid itself is about 30 miles north of Mexico City and can be seen from far away because of its bright red colour. Its construction began with a limestone base about 20 metres on each side and 10 metres high.
Cholula's Great Pyramid The Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl (Nahuatl meaning "hand-made mountain"), is a massive edifice in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. It is the biggest pyramid (temple) archaeological site in the New World, as well as the largest pyramid by volume known to exist in the world today. The pyramid was built between 1502 and 1524 for the Cholula cult. Its original purpose was to be used for religious ceremonies intended to ensure good crops and healthy animals for the people who lived within 20 miles of the pyramid.
The pyramid sits on top of a hill about 2 miles east of Cholula, near the center of the city. It stands 14 stories high with an estimated volume of 5 million cubic feet, making it the largest single structure made with earth alone until the construction of the Great Wall of China. The pyramid has 32 sides and an estimated weight of 55 million pounds. It can be seen from far away as a bright white spot against the green hills of Puebla.
There are actually two pyramids at Cholula: one built by the ancient Mayans and another one built by the ancient Toltecs. Both were constructed out of volcanic rock but only the Mayan one remains today. The reason why only one pyramid survives today is because the Toltec pyramid was destroyed during the war between the two oldest civilizations in Mexico: the Mayans and the Toltecs. The conflict started over land and women and ended up destroying both cities.
Cholula's Great Pyramid of Mexico is also called the Pyramid of the Sun God because it resembles a solar ray rising from the center of the earth to touch the moon. The great pyramid at Giza in Egypt is probably the best known pyramid, but it is not the only one of its kind. There are more than 200 pyramids in Egypt alone.
The construction of both these monuments was done using a similar method about 5,000 years ago. They are made of limestone removed from nearby hills. The Egyptians used wooden tools to cut the rocks into small pieces that could be carried away.
The walls are nearly square, with each side measuring approximately 50 feet. The apex is roughly equal in height to the base. The pyramid shape enables much of the rock to be used up. A regular pattern of windows on three sides allows for illumination inside the pyramid as well as outside. There are no remains of paintings or sculptures found inside either structure, but many believe that Cholula's pyramid was originally painted red.
Both pyramids were used for ceremonial purposes by the Egyptians, but only the Great Pyramid was built as a tomb.
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