TEOTIHUACAN, Mexico — Visitors walk along the Avenue of the Dead, the main thoroughfare of the ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan. This wide, straight boulevard stretches through the heart of the archaeological site, offering impressive views of the monumental pyramids and structures that line its path.
Photograph by David Coleman. The Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacan presents a striking example of ancient urban planning and ceremonial architecture. This broad, straight avenue runs north-south through the center of the ancient city, creating a monumental axis that organizes the site's major structures. The image likely shows people walking along this impressive thoroughfare, providing a sense of scale to the enormous structures that flank it. The avenue is paved with limestone and would have been painted in bright colors in ancient times, though now it appears weathered and sun-bleached. On either side of the avenue, stepped platforms and smaller pyramid structures are visible, leading the eye towards the more prominent Pyramid of the Moon at the northern end or the Pyramid of the Sun to the east. These structures demonstrate the precise alignment and sophisticated urban design of Teotihuacan. The name "Avenue of the Dead" was given by the Aztecs centuries after Teotihuacan's fall, reflecting their belief that the buildings lining the avenue were tombs of great rulers. While this was not actually the case, the name has persisted. Today, walking the Avenue of the Dead offers visitors a unique perspective on the grandeur and scale of this ancient city. It provides a tangible connection to the people who once traversed this same path, participating in the civic and religious life of one of the most influential cities in pre-Columbian America.
Size: 7238px × 4831px
Location: Teotihuacan, San Juan Teotihuacán, Mexico
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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