More Tales of the Pyramid Trivia Quiz

Answer: Teotihuacan

Located approximately 25 miles from present-day Mexico City, the ancient city of Teotihuacan is believed to have been the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas. With an estimated population of 125,000 people, it could have been the sixth largest city in the world of its time.

The people were great builders; across from the Pyramid of the Sun is the equally impressive Pyramid of the Moon. Archaeologists believe that the city began as an important religious center sometime during the first century AD, and continued to thrive until 550 AD; there is evidence that the larger monuments were looted and burned at that time, although it is possible that people continued to inhabit the city after that.

The area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and continues to be a popular tourist destination - some sources claim it is the most visited archaeological site in Mexico - today.

Answer: Aztecs

While the ethnicity of the ancient Teotihuacanos is unknown, the Aztecs were so impressed by the ruins they saw that they claimed a common ancestry with the people. In fact, the Aztecs were the ones who gave the people who built the city their name - Teotihuacanos.

The truth is, however, that the Teotihuacanos were established in the area about 1,000 years before the Aztecs. At one time archaeologists believed that the city had been constructed by the Toltecs, as the Florentine Codex written in the 1500s credits them as the builders of the city.

In the Aztec language, called Nahuatl, however, "toltec" means "craftsman of the highest level". After looking at the ruins of the city it is apparent that it was constructed by very talented craftsmen.

Answer: Lime plaster and painted murals

While there is not much remaining of the Pyramid of the Sun's finish, it did consists of a stucco made of lime plaster that was decorated with painted murals. Archaeologists believe that it took 100 years and over 1.1 million cubic-meters of adobe mud and brick to build the Pyramid of the Sun.

It has been estimated that over 60,000 square meters of stucco would have been used to finish the exterior of the pyramid.

Answer: Room

A tunnel constructed underneath the Pyramid of the Sun leads to a room that is located beneath the center of the pyramid. There is discussion among archaeologists as to whether this room was naturally formed as a lava tube cave, or whether it might have been man-made and used as a royal tomb. Unfortunately there is not enough information available at the time to decide the purpose of the chamber.

It is known, however, that the Aztecs believed it to be the place of Chicomoztoc, which was thought to be the spot where not only humans were created, but also where the gods were born.

In fact, they believed that it was the site where the gods created the universe.

Answer: Unknown

While there are many theories about the use of the Pyramid of the Sun, there simply isn't enough evidence of any sort that will allow archaeologists to reach a logical conclusion. The easiest explanation, perhaps, is that it was used as a temple, since it is known that the city itself was an important religious center. Eight primary deities were worshiped there and it is believed that the leaders of the government were also religious leaders.

It is thought that at one time an altar was constructed at the top of the pyramid, however, there just isn't enough evident to confirm any of the modern theories about the use of the Pyramid of the Sun.

Answer: They were both made during the same time.

At Giza, there are three pyramids that were made for Khufu (Great Pyramid), Khafre, and Menkaure. There are also three pyramids at Teotihuacan, the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, and the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl. The base of the Great Pyramid measures 231 meters, while the base of the Pyramid of the Sun measures 215 meters.

In addition, the alignment with the stars in Orion's Belt found at both sites indicates a knowledge of astronomy. The similarities between the sites have led some to believe that the ancients somehow were able to travel across the ocean and share their ideas, however, many believe that it is more likely that both groups had learned similar information about astronomy and geometry through observation and calculation. Oh! And while the Great Pyramid was built around 2600 BC, the Pyramid of the Sun came much later, at approximately 200 AD.

Answer: Obsidian

Obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass, is found all over the world. The oldest evidence of its use in weapon making dates to 700,000 BC, and was found at an archaeological site in Kenya named Kariandusi. Early knappers liked to use obsidian for their points because it could be broken very easily to create the most bodaciously nasty sharp serrated edges on their weapons.

In Mesoamerica obsidian was used as a trade good; there is even evidence that it was so valuable that wars were fought over it! Check out the obsidian "tecpatl" knives that the Aztecs used to cut out their sacrificial victims' beating hearts! Human figures made of obsidian have also been found at the Pyramid of the Sun.

Answer: Ocelot

In the ancient Aztec language, the word "ôcçlôtl" actually meant jaguar, an animal that represented one of eight deities that were believed to have been important in Teotihuacan. There is evidence, however, that ocelots were sacred among some Mesoamericans as well.

While the two animals may be similar in appearance, the jaguar is considerably larger than an ocelot and has rosette markings rather than the stripes, spots, and rosettes of an ocelot. So why was the discovery of the Teotihuacan Ocelot significant? Mostly because it was one of a very few artifacts found in the Pyramid of the Sun. Made of alabaster, the ocelot has a depression on its back.

Some archaeologists believe that perhaps sacrificial hearts were placed there, but there really is no basis to this theory.

Answer: False

If you answered true to this question, you must have forgotten about the Great Pyramid in Egypt! Although there are some similarities between the two pyramids, height isn't one of them. While the Great Pyramid measured 147 meters tall after it was completed, the Pyramid of the Sun is only 71.17 meters tall - substantially shorter.

In between the two on the list there are the Pyramid of Khafre at 137 meters high, the Red Pyramid, which is 104 meters tall, and the Bent Pyramid at 101 meters high - all located in Egypt. One must remember that there are all sorts of calculations concerning pyramids and many sites give different numbers.

When talking about which one has the greatest volume, the Great Pyramid is first, the Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico is second, and the Pyramid of the Sun is third.

Answer: True

It is an established fact that the people of Teotihuacan practiced human sacrifice. Archaeologists believe that ritual sacrifice was somehow connected to the building or expansion of many different buildings in the city. It is thought that the victims were typically enemy warriors captured in battle; they were either decapitated, had their hearts cut out, or sometimes buried alive.

The sacrificial victims found at the corners of the Pyramid of the Sun, however, were children.