The Pyramid of the Moon, smaller but equally imposing
anchors the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead and frames the urban landscape against the backdrop of nearby mountains. Its placement and alignment suggest a close relationship between architecture and the surrounding natural world. Excavations have revealed evidence of offerings and human sacrifices within the pyramid, indicating its role as a major ritual center. These acts were not random violence but part of a deeply structured belief system in which offerings sustained cosmic balance and affirmed political and religious authority.Teotihuacan was not simply a ceremonial center; it was a living city composed of neighborhoods, workshops, markets, and residences. One of the most distinctive features of the city is its apartment compounds, large residential complexes that housed extended families or occupational groups. These compounds were often richly decorated with murals depicting gods, animals, plants, and abstract symbols. The presence of such art in residential spaces suggests that religious and ideological expression permeated daily life, reinforcing shared identities and values across the population.
The city’s economy was diverse and highly organized. Teotihuacan controlled significant obsidian sources, particularly the green obsidian from Pachuca, which was prized throughout Mesoamerica. Obsidian tools, weapons, and ritual objects produced in the city were traded across vast distances, linking Teotihuacan to regions as far away as the Maya lowlands and western Mexico. Agricultural production in the surrounding valley supported the urban population, while craft specialization allowed for the creation of pottery, textiles, and luxury goods that reinforced social networks and economic power. shutdown123