Summary of Ancient Aliens: Aztec God's Visit (Season 12, Episode 7) | History
Teotihuacan Complex
- Located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, covering nearly 8 square miles.
- Dates back to the 1st century AD, making it the oldest and most sophisticated city in Mesoamerica.
- Preceded the Maya civilization by at least 100 years.
- At its peak, supported around 100,000 residents, the largest city in the western hemisphere before the 15th century.
- Served as a major commercial and religious center.
Key Architectural Features
- Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon.
- Temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god.
- Avenue of the Dead, a major thoroughfare flanked by over 200 smaller buildings, platforms, and pyramids.
- Thousands of living quarters surrounding the complex.
Mysteries and Unknowns
- Builders of Teotihuacan remain unidentified; no hieroglyphic writing or records found at the site.
- Lack of evidence about rulers or origins of the inhabitants.
- No known evolutionary development or smaller precursor sites to explain its architectural sophistication.
- The engineering, craftsmanship, and technology required to build the city seem advanced beyond what is traditionally attributed to the local ancient peoples.
Ancient Astronaut Theory and Local Lore
- Local lore suggests the city was founded by divine beings or "sky gods," specifically a dozen Lords of Thunder according to the coastal Teutonic people.
- Other Mesoamerican cultures linked the site to Quetzalcoatl, believed to have come from Venus.
- The Aztecs named it Teotihuacan, meaning "City of the Gods," implying a divine or extraterrestrial origin.
- The theory questions whether these "gods" were mythological or actual visitors who helped jumpstart civilization.
Researchers/Sources Featured
- Ancient astronaut theorists (unnamed)
- Local indigenous lore from Teutonic and other Mesoamerican cultures
- Aztec historical references
Notable Quotes
— 03:34 — « Based on the local lore of the region, ancient astronaut theorists suggest that the original builders of the site may not have been human at all. »
— 03:45 — « All of the people in this area felt this city was a sacred site connected to a divine realm. »
— 03:54 — « The Teutonic believed that the place was founded by a dozen sky gods, the Lords of thunder. »
— 04:39 — « The name Teotihuacan speaks for itself, so one has to ask the question: what gods? »
— 04:49 — « Who were they? Were they just a figment of our ancestors' imagination or did they see someone, did somebody visit them to essentially jumpstart civilization? »
Category
Science and Nature