The Place Where Men Become Gods

Teotihuaca lies some 30 miles north east of present day Mexico City. The city was one of the largest in the world in 500 AD boasting a population of well over 100,000 people. It was the heart of a civilization that sprawled across Meso-America. It houses multi-family dwelling and a series of temples on the Avenue of the Dead, and other structures, none of which, interestingly, are of a military nature.

The collapse of the city occurred around the 8th century AD. It isn't understood why, though there is evidence of burning and they systematic destruction of the statues of gods along the Avenue of  the Dead. Theories range from drought to a revolt of the lower classes; but it seems highly possible that the city was ruined in war and the temples and gods defaced by a gloating enemy.

What is known is that the inhabitants had time to cram the tunnels beneath the temples with all manner of debris. To protect them? to hide their contents? Its been difficult to say. However, recently archeologists have sent in small robots to explore these hidden chambers.

They discovered, amongst many other artifacts, a host of small golden orbs. These orbs are made of hardened clay and were covered with fools gold. There were scores of these beneath the temple complex. Their purpose is not known.

But one wonders in a temple, upon the Avenue of the Dead, in a city called The Place Where Men Become Gods.

Read on at Gizmodo