Teotenango Attractions
About 25km/16mi south of Toluca on the MEX 55 lies the village of Tenango del Valle (or de Arista).
The archaeological site of Teotenango (Náhuatl: "place of the divine wall"), which is situated close by, is an extensive site, unified in its conception, its beginnings dating back at least to the 7th C ad. The heyday of the site occurred between the 10th and 12th c., but the cultural influences of late Teotihuacán, the Toltecs, the Matlatzinca and the Aztecs tended to merge with one another. A large part of this once highly important Indian cultural centre, which was based in the Toluca valley and strongly influenced by the Matlatzinca, was only uncovered during the last twenty years. The heart of the site has been called the Sistema Norte (north system) and is divided into six connecting sections (conjuntos). The site is distinguished by its pyramid platforms with their three or four staggered levels, on which the temple buildings once rested, access to which was gained by sometimes massive stairways.
The archaeological site of Teotenango (Náhuatl: "place of the divine wall"), which is situated close by, is an extensive site, unified in its conception, its beginnings dating back at least to the 7th C ad. The heyday of the site occurred between the 10th and 12th c., but the cultural influences of late Teotihuacán, the Toltecs, the Matlatzinca and the Aztecs tended to merge with one another. A large part of this once highly important Indian cultural centre, which was based in the Toluca valley and strongly influenced by the Matlatzinca, was only uncovered during the last twenty years. The heart of the site has been called the Sistema Norte (north system) and is divided into six connecting sections (conjuntos). The site is distinguished by its pyramid platforms with their three or four staggered levels, on which the temple buildings once rested, access to which was gained by sometimes massive stairways.
A Complex
On entering the site, the visitor will first of all come to the A Complex, situated at the Plaza del Jaguar. On the second level of the supporting wall there is the relief of a jaguar with the motive of "2 rabbit" ("2 tochtli") carved on the left-hand side and on the right the symbol of "9 house" ("9 calli").
D Complex
The most extensive area of the Sistema Norte is the D complex. As well as platforms, dwelling-places and patios, a building 120 x 40 m (472 3 131 ft) in area was discovered, the so-called "Serpent Base" (Basamento de la Serpiente). In front of this the Plaza de la Serpiente (Square of the Serpent), probably once the market place, stretches out. It is bounded on the west by the Calle de la Rana (Street of the Frog) and on the north by the Plaza del Durazno (Square of the Peach). The Plaza de la Serpiente and the Calle de la Rana take their names from a snake-shaped relief and a sculpture of a frog, both of which were discovered here.
E Complex
Behind A Complex is the E complex with its ball court (23 3 10 m (75 3 33 ft)) and steam bath. The building of the ball court necessitated the pulling down of some dwelling-houses, the remains of which can still be seen.
Museum
The museum houses remarkable archaeological finds from the Estado de México, mainly from Teotenango, Malinalco and Calixtlahuaca. The statue of Ehécatl from Calixtlahuaca and the carved wooden drum (Panhuéhuetl) from Malinalco are particularly worth seeing.
