Ciudadela

by Mike Hansen---
 * __TEOTIHUACAN__ **** __: CIUDADELA--__ **



Excavated between 1917 and 1922 the Ciudadela is the largest enclosed space in Teotihuacan. This very large enclosed area was located towards the southern end of the Street of the Dead and in the center of city named (south of the River San Juan) Teotihuacan. The area is somewhere around four hundred meters on each side and seven meters high. The inside of the Ciudadela is surrounded by huge pyramids on every side as well. One being the Feathered Serpent Pyramid. According to the archeology website [], the main plaza of Ciudadela was able to hold somewhere around 100,000 people. “The plaza is so large that George Cowgill Estimated that at its height the entire adult population of Teotihuacan could have gathered there. ([]). Even with a population of that size the city still wasn’t overpopulated. In fact, the Ciudadela was probably one of the better areas in the city to live.
 * __ Introduction __**

The Temple of the Feathered Serpent was the main temple of the Ciudadela. It was highly decorated with sculptures of heads as shown in the photograph below. This pyramid seems to be the most important and massive structures in Teotihuacan. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent was visible to people sanding in the main plaza all the way up until the Adosada platform was built. Once that was created the front wall of the pyramid couldn’t be seen as well anymore. It is said that unlike the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, This temple was both “architecturally and sculpturally labor intensive. (Pasztory 108) It was also the first sculptured building in Teotihuacan.
 * __ Relation to the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent __**

It is presumed that the Cuidadela might have been used for rituals as well. Ritual performances such as sacrifices or other religious activities were done in the Ciudadela, but the Cuidadela itself is less than one-sixth of the city’s ceremonial area. Another area ceremonial area of Teotihuacan is once again, The Temple of the Feathered Serpent. The construction of the temple was marked by a mass buirial of around two hundred people. These gaves were discovered in the late 1980’s and were presumed to be warriors and they are what influenced the artwork on the pyramid itself. ([]) This is yet again another connection between Ciudadela and the Feathered Serpent Temple.
 * __ Rituals __**

What relationship did the Ciudadela have with Royalty? Cuidadela was built right next to the most important pyramid in all of Teotihuacan, The Temple of the Feathered Serpent. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is decorated in a fashion similar to that of Mesoamerican lord's temples. The fact that the Cuidadela was built right next to it, leads me to believe that the people responsible for the Cuidadela had some connection with Teotihuacan royalty. Perhaps they were royalty them selves. It is thought by some archeologists that the city's center "Cuidadela" held not only the Teotihuacan villigers, but also their rulers as well. This leads me to believe that the Ciudadela is of just as much importance to the city as any other pyramid, temple, plaza, or avenue.
 * __ Ciudadela and Royalty __**

The Ciudadela was built after the construction of The Pyramid of the Sun and The Pyramid of the Moon were finished. Once earlier structures had been removed, Construction of the Ciudadela started. It began during the Miccaotli phase, but the site has been in use since the earliest ceramic phase of the city called “Patlachique”. ([]). It was one of the most important remaining ceremonial complexes and the largest enclosed plaza in all of Teotihuacan.
 * __ Chronology __**

A similar area to the Ciudadela is located by the Pyramid of the Moon. Although it is one of the smaller pyramids in the city, the Pyramid of the Moon also has its own plaza surrounded by many other various pyramids. This plaza is considered by most to be the second largest ceremonial and open area in the entire city. Although this plaza resembles the Ciudadela, I do not think it is as important to the city. There is not a sufficiant amount of evidence to lead me to believe that the cities inhabitants lived there instead of the Ciudadela.
 * __ Similar Areas __**

The Ciudadela has been an important excavation area for archeologists. In fact, it was during excavations at Ciudadela that The Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent was even found. Other important finds at Ciudadela were the discovery of incense burners and masks. “In the excavations directed by Ruben Cavrera Castro in the Ciudadela and the Street of the Dead Complex, excavators found three masks on floors and passageways, some near niches.” ( Pasztory 147) Some excavations have brought to light religious artifacts from Teotihuacan. Another excavation done by Ruben Cavera Castra uncovered half a dozen large statues in different colors of semi precious stones. Some of the statues were male and some were female, and some statues were dressed while others were nuded. All of these statues resemble similar statues found in the Pyramid of the Sun.
 * __ Excavations at Ciudadela __**

Near the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent there are two different apartment complexes. They are called the North Palace and the South Palace. These complexes were used as homes for the cities inhabitants and provided offices for governmental and elite members of the society. It is also said that the city’s rulers may have lived there as well. This is very possible due to the fact that there are over two thousand residential compounds between the two apartment complexes. Both of these apartment complexes were excavated and studied by the Proyecto Arqueológico Teotihuacán 1980-82 (PAT80-82) of Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia Antropología e Historia (INAH) in Mexico ([]).
 * __ Apartments __**

Teotihuacan is known for is architecture. It is mostly characterized by its distinct style known as “talud-tablero”. This style of pyramid construction consists of a large flat surface which is called “tablero”, followed by an angled side which is called the talud. The entire city was built with this “talud-tablero style includeing all pyramids and both apartment compounds. The "talud-tablero" style of biulding is depicted in the picture below.
 * __ Architecture __**

The fact that the Ciudadela was built after the pyramids but is so big in size leads me to believe that it was of great importance. One would think that if a pyramid or symbol is very important you would want to see it at all times, but because of the way the Ciudadela was built, you can barely see the pyramids around it. Was it more important than the pyramids themselves.

To sum things up, the Ciudadela should most definately be known as one of, if not the most important part of the city Teotihuacan. Although it is not a giant temple or pyramid, it played an important role for the city. It was used for sacrifices. It was used for ceremonies. Most importantly it held almost the entire cities inhabitants. This was no small random area. The Ciudadela was the center of the great city known as Teotihuacan. "Ciudadela (ancient courtyard, Teotihuacan, Mexico) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." __Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia__. 17 Apr. 2009 []. "Ciudadela Teotihuacan." __Archaeological Research Institute__. 17 Apr. 2009 .
 * __ Conclusion __**
 * __ Sources: __**

Kolb, Charles C. __Marine Shell Trade and Classic Teotihuacan, Mexico__. Ser. 364. Great Britain: B.A.R., 1987. "Map of Teotihuacán (ruin), Mexico - World Atlas - MSN Encarta." __MSN Encarta : Online Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Atlas, and__ __Homework__. 19 Apr. 2009 . Pasztory, Esther. __Teotihuacan An Experiment in Living__. University Of Oklahoma P, 1997. "Teotihuacan: Ciudadela | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." __The Metropolitan Museum__ __of Art, New York: metmuseum.org__. 17 Apr. 2009 [].