Temple Of The Feathered Serpent: Case Study

If one were to follow the Street, they would come a cross the “Citadel.” the Citadel was known to house the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. This area assumed the title of the city’s ceremonial center. The rich lived in enormous “palaces" surrounding this center. This is unique as the rest of the commoners lived clumped together in apartment complexes spread out in other areas of the city. Deities such as the Storm God and the Feathered Serpent hold symbolic meaning in their placement at the entrance of many living compound. For instance, at the Main Temple, we not only see these sculptures, but a reoccurrence of the patio. The temple had an entrance located on the west side which acted as its only access point. This is similar to the

Given the craft specialization and large output of goods, we can infer that they were a strong trade influence in Mesoamerica at the time. Unfortunately not many shops or evidence for markets have been excavated to provide evidence of an economy of markets like we see today. (Feinman and Garraty 2010) Evidence found at other urban centers such as in Ur, suggest other commercial economies with shops opening up to the streets and a livable space in the back. These shops as well as scales and other tools discovered make the suggestion that a city of such large scale like Teotihuacan would also have this type of economy. This commercial economy at Teotihuacan would have had a heavy influence on other civilizations in the surrounding

This Mayan development suggests yet again a cultural relationship. Artistic pieces as well as some of the structures built at the site show influence from the city of Teotihuacan, even sharing a common source in terms of the building materials used and the ceramic works made. (Laporte, 2003) On the other hand, the architecture at Kaminalijuyu does not completely match that found at Teo. It has been argued that Teotihuacanos could have invaded the city at one point or another, but this theory is debunked when the timing is examined. We see a gradual incorporation of Teo style in the pyramids at Kaminaljuyu and some of the other structures. This, paired with the later influence on the city’s artistic works, suggests that the two cities had a prolonged relationship, rather than Kaminalijuyu being conquered and integrated all at once. The great pyramids found at Teotihuacan consisted of staircases and tableros, or stepped platforms. The later structures built at Kaminalijuyu (Mound A and B), incorporate talud-tableros of their own which were adopted from Teo. (Laporte, 2003) Ceramics discovered within tombs found underneath these two mounds at Kaminalijuyu can be related to the same exact style found at Teotihuacan. A type of obsidian very commonly used at Teo, known as “Pachuca,” as a result of being mined from an area known as