Pyramids of the Latin American Civilizations

Pyramids of the Latin American Civilizations America is not as famous as Egypt for its Pyramids of Giza, though it is worthy to mention America’s significance as a home to thousands of ancient pyramids. In many city-states, Olmec, Aztec and Maya civilizations built up pyramids dedicated to their deities. The top of those pyramids was considered for building temples, which were the center of social life. Numerous religious rituals were carried out in those temples, including human sacrifice. 

Among the well known American pyramids are the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon in central Mexico, the Pyramid of Castillo in Yucatan, the Great Pyramid in Tenochtitlan, the Inca’s temple in Peru and the Pyramid located in Cholula. Mesoamericans started building pyramids as early as the 1000 BC. The pyramids were made of earth, which was later covered with stone from the outside. The tops of pyramids were built flat for building temples to their deities. The earliest of these pyramids was built between 1000 BC and 400 BC, located in Mexico. Pyramids were rebuilt each time when a new ruler came to power. By this act, the ruler was guaranteed a better relationship with the deities. 

According to the early theory by historians, those pyramids were not considered for burial, but they were home for deities. As opposite to this theory,recent excavation revealed that these very temples were home to many tombs. Another investigation unearthed that the pyramids had a defensive role for the city-state inhabitants. Between the fifth and sixth centuries the Teotihuacans were a majority in the Mesoamerican societies. Their same name capital, located in the northeastern part of the current Mexico City, had a population of around 200,000 people. The Pyramid of Sun belongs to the Teotihuacans, which is the most famous pyramid in Latin America. 

Mayas are famous for their temple-pyramids. These pyramids were the center of Maya stone cities. The popular Maya pyramid is located in Palmeque, Mexico. It is referred to as the Temple of Inscriptions, a magnificent masterpiece of Maya stone carving. The temple is home to King Hanab Pakal, who reigned in the seventh century. Another Maya monument is located in Tikal, Guatemala. It is considered to be the tallest Maya pyramid built in the eight century AD. As any other Mesoamerican civilization, the Aztecs were warriors in nature. Accordingly, on the symbol of conquest there is depicted a temple in fire, with the conqueror destroying it.
During the 12th and 16th centuries they built pyramids dedicated to their deities. The famous Aztec monument is located in Tenochtitlan, the great Aztec capital. There are stairs, taking up from each side of the four faced pyramids. It has a height of over 60 meters. The temple erected on the top of the pyramid, is dedicated to great Aztec gods; gods of sun and war, rain and fertility. 

The list of the pyramids of the Latin American Civilization is not limited to those mentioned above. To get to know more about the wonders of those mysterious civilizations, keep reading the upcoming posts.