Ancient Aliens: Aztec God's Visit (Season 12, Episode 7) | History

HISTORY

5 Sept 201805:10

Summary

TLDRThe Teotihuacan complex, located near Mexico City, is a mysterious ancient city dating back to the first century AD. Known as the 'Rome of Mesoamerica,' it predates the Maya civilization and was once the largest city in the Western hemisphere, supporting nearly 100,000 residents. It featured the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and a temple to Quetzalcoatl, alongside the Avenue of the Dead. Despite its grandeur, the city's origins and the fate of its inhabitants remain unknown, with no hieroglyphs or clear historical records. Some theories suggest it was built by divine beings, as indicated by local lore and the Aztec name 'City of the Gods.'

Takeaways

🗺️ Teotihuacan is an ancient city complex located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, covering nearly eight square miles and dating back to the first century AD.
🏛️ It is considered the oldest and most sophisticated city in Mesoamerica, which stretches from northern Mexico to Central America.
⏳ Predating the Maya civilization by at least 100 years, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the Western hemisphere before the 15th century.
🌆 At its zenith, Teotihuacan supported a population of nearly 100,000 residents and served as a major commerce and religious center.
🌟 The city is often referred to as the 'Rome of Mesoamerica' due to its significant influence on subsequent city-states.
⛰️ The central features of Teotihuacan include the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and a temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent.
🏡 The Avenue of the Dead is a prominent thoroughfare lined with over 200 smaller buildings, platforms, and pyramids.
🤔 Despite its grandeur, the identity of Teotihuacan's builders and the fate of its inhabitants remain a mystery.
📜 Unlike other Mesoamerican cultures, Teotihuacan lacks hieroglyphs, making its history and rulership unclear.
👽 Ancient astronaut theorists, influenced by local lore, suggest that Teotihuacan may have been built by non-human entities, such as sky gods or extraterrestrial beings.
🌐 The Aztecs named the city 'Teotihuacan,' meaning 'city of the gods,' raising questions about the divine beings possibly associated with its origins.

Q & A

Where is the Teotihuacan complex located?
-The Teotihuacan complex is located just 30 miles northeast of Mexico City.
How large is the Teotihuacan complex?
-The complex encompasses nearly eight square miles.
When was Teotihuacan established?
-Teotihuacan is dated to the first century AD.
How does Teotihuacan compare to other Mesoamerican cities in terms of age?
-The civilization predated the Maya by at least 100 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Mesoamerica.
What was the peak population of Teotihuacan?
-At its peak, Teotihuacan was said to have supported nearly 100,000 residents.
What was Teotihuacan's significance in the Western hemisphere?
-It was the largest city in the entire Western hemisphere prior to the 15th century and served as a major commerce and religious center for the region.
What are the central features of the Teotihuacan complex?
-The central features include two large pyramids known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, as well as a temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl.
What is the significance of the Avenue of the Dead?
-The Avenue of the Dead is a thoroughfare alongside which over 200 smaller buildings, platforms, and pyramids are found.
Why is there a mystery surrounding the builders of Teotihuacan?
-Despite its size, Teotihuacan has no hieroglyphs, unlike other Mesoamerican cultures that were using writing systems, leaving no clear history of its builders or rulers.
What theories exist about the origins of Teotihuacan's advanced architecture?
-Some suggest that the technology required to build Teotihuacan's structures was greater than what was possessed by the people of the time, leading to questions about the origins of such sophistication.
What is the local lore regarding the founders of Teotihuacan?
-Ancient astronaut theorists and local lore suggest that the original builders of the site may not have been human but divine beings or gods, as the site is considered sacred and connected to a divine realm.
What is the meaning behind the name 'Teotihuacan'?
-The name Teotihuacan translates to 'city of the gods,' which raises questions about the identity of these gods and whether they were a product of imagination or actual visitors who influenced the civilization.

Outlines

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🗺️ Teotihuacan: The Ancient City of Mesoamerica

Located near Mexico City, the Teotihuacan complex is an expansive archaeological site dating back to the first century AD. It was the earliest and most advanced city in Mesoamerica, a region extending from northern Mexico to Central America, predating the Maya civilization by a century. At its zenith, the city was home to nearly 100,000 people, making it the largest in the Western Hemisphere until the 15th century. It served as a major hub for commerce and religion. The city's central features include the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and a temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, all situated along the Avenue of the Dead. Despite its grandeur, the origins of Teotihuacan and its builders remain a mystery, with no hieroglyphs or clear historical records. The city's advanced engineering and craftsmanship suggest a level of technology that challenges conventional beliefs about ancient civilizations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican city located near modern-day Mexico City. It is renowned for its architectural and cultural significance, predating the Maya civilization by at least 100 years. The term is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing the city's mysterious origins and advanced urban planning. The script mentions Teotihuacan's status as 'the Rome of Mesoamerica,' highlighting its influence on subsequent city-states.

💡Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica refers to a region extending from northern Mexico through Central America, known for its rich cultural heritage and the development of advanced civilizations such as the Maya and Aztec. In the context of the video, Mesoamerica is important as it provides the geographical and cultural backdrop for Teotihuacan, emphasizing the city's role in the broader historical narrative of the area.

💡Pyramid of the Sun

The Pyramid of the Sun is one of the two large pyramids in the Teotihuacan complex, symbolizing the city's architectural prowess and religious significance. The video uses the pyramid as an example of the advanced engineering and craftsmanship of the civilization, despite the lack of a clear historical record of its builders.

💡Pyramid of the Moon

Similar to the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon is another key structure in the Teotihuacan complex. It is mentioned in the script to illustrate the city's architectural complexity and the mystery surrounding its construction, as there is no direct evidence of who built these structures or their purpose.

💡Avenue of the Dead

The Avenue of the Dead is a significant thoroughfare in Teotihuacan, lined with smaller buildings, platforms, and pyramids. The name and the avenue itself are integral to the video's exploration of the city's religious and cultural practices, suggesting a possible connection to funerary rituals or processions.

💡Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, is a significant deity in Mesoamerican mythology, often associated with wisdom and wind. In the video, a temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl is mentioned, indicating the city's religious beliefs and the potential influence of these beliefs on its architecture and societal structure.

💡Ancient Astronaut Theory

The Ancient Astronaut Theory, as discussed in the video, posits that extraterrestrial beings influenced the development of human civilizations. The script references this theory in relation to Teotihuacan, suggesting that the original builders of the site may not have been human, but rather divine or otherworldly beings.

💡Totonac

The Totonac are an indigenous people of the region where Teotihuacan is located. The video mentions their belief that the city was founded by sky gods, which adds to the mystical and enigmatic nature of Teotihuacan's origins and the cultural significance of the site in local lore.

💡Venus

In the context of the video, Venus is mentioned in relation to the Mesoamerican god Quetzalcoatl, who was said to have come from this planet. This association adds to the otherworldly and divine aspects attributed to the city's founders and the civilization that built Teotihuacan.

💡Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs are a form of writing using symbols to represent words or sounds. The video points out the absence of hieroglyphs at Teotihuacan, which is unusual given the city's sophistication and the presence of writing systems in other Mesoamerican cultures. This absence contributes to the mystery of the city's history and the identity of its inhabitants.

💡Engineering Principles

The term 'engineering principles' refers to the scientific and mathematical methods used in the design and construction of structures. The video discusses the advanced engineering principles evident in Teotihuacan's architecture, suggesting a level of technological sophistication that challenges conventional assumptions about ancient civilizations.

Highlights

Teotihuacan is located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City and is dated to the first century AD.

It is the oldest and most sophisticated city of Mesoamerica, predating the Maya by at least 100 years.

At its peak, Teotihuacan supported nearly 100,000 residents and was the largest city in the Western hemisphere before the 15th century.

The city served as a major commerce and religious center for the region.

Teotihuacan is referred to as the Rome of Mesoamerica, setting patterns for all other city-states after it.

The central features of the complex include the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and a temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl.

The Avenue of the Dead is a thoroughfare lined with over 200 smaller buildings, platforms, and pyramids.

Thousands of living quarters are found just outside the complex.

Despite its grandeur, the builders of Teotihuacan remain unknown, and its history is unclear.

Teotihuacan lacks hieroglyphs, unlike other Mesoamerican cultures that used writing systems.

The site's sophistication in engineering, craftsmanship, and art raises questions about its origins and the technology used to build it.

The absence of smaller versions of Teotihuacan suggests a missing link in its evolution.

Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that the original builders of the site may not have been human.

Local lore and nearby Mesoamerican cultures associate Teotihuacan with divine beings and extraterrestrial origins.

The Aztecs named the place Teotihuacan, meaning 'city of the gods', raising questions about the identity of these gods.

The name Teotihuacan implies a connection to gods, possibly indicating that civilization was jump-started by visitors.