Who were the founders of this city about 100 a.d.? We don´t know. Likewise, it remains a mystery why this, once the largest city in mesoamerica, went down in 650 a.d. and later was rediscovered as a ruin city by the aztec which used it again.

Here some speculations which are supported by many indications: after some catastrophic volcanic eruptions many people were driven from their settlement areas and found a new place in the valley of Teotihuacan wich almost provided paradisiacal settlement conditions. As thanks to their gods, they built those huge pyramids and temples. Neither pack animals were known nor the wheel invented, so all stones and wadding had been carried by human muscle power. the dimensions of the temples and pyramids are enormous, so, for example the sun pyramid (the name was given by the aztec) is the third largest pyramid in the world. Formerly it was thought, that the people had lived peacefully together, the numerous murals do suggest this. They practiced intensive trade and exported the valuable obsidian, which is extremly sharp if splitted skillfully. The city probably had around 200,000 inhabitants in its heyday, and new archaeological findings made clear that many animals and in addition many humans were sacrificed to the gods.

More and more humans were sacrificed (maybe because of drouts) and about 650 a.d. the residents got annoyed of the quirks of the priests and put the entire temple complex on fire. Scorch marks were found in all temples, but not in the living quarters.

The research is very complicated because the former residents knew no written language and so we even don´t know how they called themselves.

For further information go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teotihuacan

we had driven this old silver town because our truck needed service. Like all other old silver towns which we had visited queretaro has magnificent building with a special mexican flair. However, we had not expected to meet tutankhamun here as well. This exhibition enjoyed a big popularity, even it was mainly equipped with replicas.

the wealth of this city derives from the silver mines nearby. Today nearly 10% oft he population are us americans and canadians, and this explains the extremely high density of galleries, interior shops and excellent restaurants. Soon there will be a short video on my blog about the art walk in the “fabrica la aurora”

Up to 40% of all the silver in the world derives from the province guanajuato and from the beginning oft he 16th century the spanish crown gained an immense wealth. Mostly indios were forced to work in the mines and as a “rewarding” they were given only a food ration. In the 18th century guanajuato was the richest city in mexico and the world leader in silver mining. Back in this time the most magnificent buildings and churches were build.

Whatever, the time of the “holy” inquisition wasn´t funny, especially for the indigenous population. The cruelty of the conquerors inspired the imagination in creating new torture instruments. Some are on display in a small museum (near the silver mines of valenciana).