Cholula - Temple Pyramid

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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.