Cholula - Temple Pyramid

Cholula's great temple pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcóatl, pale-skinned, bearded god of the wind who was also identified with Venus, the Morning and Evening Star. In the mythology of the peoples of Meso-America it was he who, representing the forces of technology and civilisation, brought them knowledge of the arts, sciences and agriculture.

The pyramid, almost completely buried beneath a layer of soil and vegetation, is the largest such structure in the world. Measuring 425 m (1400 ft) along each side at the base, it once stood over 62 m (200 ft) high and occupied an area of some 17 ha (42 acres). Over a period of about 1500 years it was enlarged on seven occasions by a process of superimposition, until the total interior area amounted to some 3.4 million sq. mi. (4 million sq. yd). Up to now reconstruction has been confined to a section of the west side. Exploratory work so far carried out, involving excavation of almost 9km/5.6mi of passageways, has revealed not only the remains of platforms, living quarters, temple walls and patios but also a curious stairway and interesting frescos. Teotihuacán-style butterflies and grasshoppers decorate the walls together with a magnificent, colourful mural (about ad 200), 50 m (53 ft)-long.

Some idea of the true scale of the huge pyramid complex can be had from the model in the little museum facing the entrance.

Snake phenomenon It was only in 1997 that it was discovered that, at the time of the solstices on March 22nd and December 22nd, a moving line resembling a crawling snake appeared on the great temple pyramid in the morning and in the evening, similar to that on the Kukulcán pyramid in Chichén. It differs from Chichén, however, in that not only does the "snake" appear to slither down from the top of the pyramid, it seems to glide upwards as well.