Tenayuca 
How to get there
From Mexico City take metro line 5 as far as the Estación de Autobuses del Norte, from there continue by bus; by car or taxi along the Insurgentes Norte as far as the crossroads with the Río Consulado and the Calzada Vallejo, then north-west on the Calzada Vallejo to the village of San Bartolo.
12km/7.5mi north of the centre of Mexico City near Tlalnepantla stands the impressive pyramid of Tenayuca, which was extended upwards on seven occasions between the 13th and 16th c. As a product of the clash between the advanced civilisation of the Toltecs and the up-and-coming Chichimec empire, the serpent-shaped pyramid of Tenayuca is a classic example of the architectural styles that the Aztecs employed in constructing their temple pyramids.
From Mexico City take metro line 5 as far as the Estación de Autobuses del Norte, from there continue by bus; by car or taxi along the Insurgentes Norte as far as the crossroads with the Río Consulado and the Calzada Vallejo, then north-west on the Calzada Vallejo to the village of San Bartolo.
12km/7.5mi north of the centre of Mexico City near Tlalnepantla stands the impressive pyramid of Tenayuca, which was extended upwards on seven occasions between the 13th and 16th c. As a product of the clash between the advanced civilisation of the Toltecs and the up-and-coming Chichimec empire, the serpent-shaped pyramid of Tenayuca is a classic example of the architectural styles that the Aztecs employed in constructing their temple pyramids.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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History
According to tradition Tenayuca (Náhuatl: "walled square") was where Chichimecs who had taken part in the destruction of Tula settled under their leader Xólotl ("immense") in ad 1224. In 1246 Xólotl and his followers Nepaltzin ("honoured cactus fruit") and Tlotzin ("falcon") succeeded in conquering the Toltecs who had recently settled in Culhuacán. At the beginning of the 14th c. the Chichimecs, who had already been heavily influenced by the Toltecs, moved their capital to Texcoco. From that point on Tenayuca came increasingly under the influence of other peoples such as the Tepanecs, Tlahuicas and the Mexica and from the middle of the 15th c. onwards the inhabitants of this region were to a large extent ruled by neighbouring Tenochtitlán. After the conquest the Spanish destroyed the temples on the pyramid and installed Rodrigo de Paz Moctezuma, a son of the Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II, as governor of Tenayuca. Initial archaeological explorations of the area were undertaken in 1900 by Leopoldo Batres, the work being continued in 1931 and 1957 by Ignacio Marquina.
According to tradition Tenayuca (Náhuatl: "walled square") was where Chichimecs who had taken part in the destruction of Tula settled under their leader Xólotl ("immense") in ad 1224. In 1246 Xólotl and his followers Nepaltzin ("honoured cactus fruit") and Tlotzin ("falcon") succeeded in conquering the Toltecs who had recently settled in Culhuacán. At the beginning of the 14th c. the Chichimecs, who had already been heavily influenced by the Toltecs, moved their capital to Texcoco. From that point on Tenayuca came increasingly under the influence of other peoples such as the Tepanecs, Tlahuicas and the Mexica and from the middle of the 15th c. onwards the inhabitants of this region were to a large extent ruled by neighbouring Tenochtitlán. After the conquest the Spanish destroyed the temples on the pyramid and installed Rodrigo de Paz Moctezuma, a son of the Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II, as governor of Tenayuca. Initial archaeological explorations of the area were undertaken in 1900 by Leopoldo Batres, the work being continued in 1931 and 1957 by Ignacio Marquina.
Related Attractions
Serpent Pyramid
It is thought that the serpent pyramid, which was dedicated to the sun cult, used to be given a new casing every 52 years, in keeping with the Aztec calendar cycle. The last occasions on which this happened under predominantly Aztec influence were in 1351, 1403, 1455 and 1507. The two previous occasions, which makes a total of seven in all, could well have been in 1247 and 1299 under Chichimec-Toltec influence.
The core of the building measures 31 3 12 m (102 3 39 ft) and has a height of 8 m (26 ft), the final casing structure measuring 66 3 62 m (217 3 203 ft) with a height of 19 m (62 ft). Although no actual observatory-type buildings have been found, it is assumed, on the basis of various indicators, that this site was also used for star-gazing and that the building was aligned with heavenly bodies. A pointer to this is the existence of posts in the pyramid walls at the exact spot where the sun goes down on March 21st and September 23rd, in other words at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. As at Chichén-Itzá and Teotihuacán the north-south axis here at Tenayuca has also as a result been shifted 17 degrees to the east.
The main part of what is visible today of the pyramid derives from the last three casing structures to be added. The final appearance of the site is in its essential features very similar to the main temple (Templo Mayor) of Tenochtitlán, which was almost completely destroyed, its remains having only been discovered in the last few years. The pyramid is surrounded on three sides by a platform which is decorated by the bodies of recumbent serpents. This "serpent wall" (Coatepantli) today comprises 138 serpent sculptures. Originally the pyramid is thought to have been embellished with a total of 800 stone serpents. The rolled-up fire or turquoise serpents (Xiuhcóatl) next to the small platforms (two on the north and one on the south side), which presumably served as symbols of the sun's authority, date from the time that the fifth casing structure was added. A vault decorated with skulls and skeletons, to the right of the pyramid, probably symbolises the setting of the sun. Two wide parallel flights of steps used to lead across the four-storey pyramid to the double temple.
The core of the building measures 31 3 12 m (102 3 39 ft) and has a height of 8 m (26 ft), the final casing structure measuring 66 3 62 m (217 3 203 ft) with a height of 19 m (62 ft). Although no actual observatory-type buildings have been found, it is assumed, on the basis of various indicators, that this site was also used for star-gazing and that the building was aligned with heavenly bodies. A pointer to this is the existence of posts in the pyramid walls at the exact spot where the sun goes down on March 21st and September 23rd, in other words at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. As at Chichén-Itzá and Teotihuacán the north-south axis here at Tenayuca has also as a result been shifted 17 degrees to the east.
The main part of what is visible today of the pyramid derives from the last three casing structures to be added. The final appearance of the site is in its essential features very similar to the main temple (Templo Mayor) of Tenochtitlán, which was almost completely destroyed, its remains having only been discovered in the last few years. The pyramid is surrounded on three sides by a platform which is decorated by the bodies of recumbent serpents. This "serpent wall" (Coatepantli) today comprises 138 serpent sculptures. Originally the pyramid is thought to have been embellished with a total of 800 stone serpents. The rolled-up fire or turquoise serpents (Xiuhcóatl) next to the small platforms (two on the north and one on the south side), which presumably served as symbols of the sun's authority, date from the time that the fifth casing structure was added. A vault decorated with skulls and skeletons, to the right of the pyramid, probably symbolises the setting of the sun. Two wide parallel flights of steps used to lead across the four-storey pyramid to the double temple.
Tenayuca Surroundings
Temple Pyramid of Santa Cecilia Acatitlán
About 3km/2mi north of the serpent pyramid is the 10 m (33 ft) high temple pyramid of Santa Cecilia Acatitlán, which has been completely restored. This is thought to have been used for worshipping the sun and the rain-god Tláloc. Of special interest is the temple building on the pyramid; this is still the original one, although restored. The museum adjoining the pyramid is in a house with an attractive patio.
