Xochicalco is a pre-Columbian archaeological site in Miacatlán Municipality in the western part of the Mexican state of Morelos. The name Xochicalco may be translated from Nahuatl as "in the house of Flowers". The site is located 38 km (24 miles) southwest of Cuernavaca, about 121 km (75 miles) by road from México City. The site is open to visitors all week, from 10:00 to 17:00, although access to the observatory is only allowed after noon. The apogee of Xochicalco came after the fall of Teotihuacán and it has been speculated that Xochicalco may have played a part in the fall of the Teotihuacán empire.
The architecture and iconography of Xochicalco show affinities with Teotihuacán, the Maya area, and the Matlatzinca culture of the Toluca Valley. Today the residents of the nearby village of Cuentepec speak Nahuatl.
The main ceremonial center is atop an artificially leveled hill, with remains of residential structures, mostly unexcavated, on long terraces covering the slopes. The site was first occupied by 200 BCE, but did not develop into an urban center until the Epiclassic period (700 – 900 CE). Nearly all the standing architecture at the site was built at this time. At its peak, the city may have had a population of up to 20,000 people.
View of Xochicalco. (1234k) East side of Xochicalco. (1124k) East side of Xochicalco. (1368k) Plaza of the Two-Glyph Stele. (1379k) Plaza of the Two-Glyph Stele. (882k) Plaza of the Two-Glyph Stele. (994k) Two-Glyph Stele, showing the glyphs "10 Acatl" and "9 Eye of the Reptile", perhaps related to Quetzalcoatl. (1039k) Great Pyramid. (1148k) East ball court. (1364k) Small pyramid. (1210k) Cistern. (1.6M) Buildings. (1.5M) Buildings. (1263k) Observatory. (1.8M) Acropolis (residential area of the rulers). (1112k) Acropolis. (1244k) View from the Acropolis towards the Main Plaza, with the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in the background. (1235k) Main Plaza with the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in the center. (975k) Temple of the Feathered Serpent. (1105k) Temple of the Feathered Serpent. (1.6M) West side of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. (1344k) South side of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. (1.8M) East side of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. (1.6M) North side of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. (1338k) Interior of the temple. (1186k) Detail of the frieze on the west side. (1.6M) Detail of the frieze on the west side. (1402k) Detail of the frieze on the south side. (1.7M) Detail of the frieze on the south side. (1.8M) Detail of the frieze on the south side. (1.8M) Detail of the frieze on the south side. (1.6M) Detail of the frieze on the east side. (1.8M) Detail of the frieze on the east side. (1.8M) Detail of the frieze on the east side. (1.8M) Detail of the frieze on the east side. (1.9M) Detail of the frieze on the east side. (1.8M) Detail of the frieze on the north side. (1.7M) Detail of the frieze on the north side. (1.7M) Detail of the frieze on the north side. (1.6M) Detail of the frieze on the north side. (1474k) Frieze on top of the temple. (1.7M) Frieze on top of the temple. (1.5M) Frieze on top of the temple. (1.8M) Detail of the frieze on top of the temple. (1.9M) Stone statue of the Goddess Xōchiquetzal. (1056k) Grave gifts. (592k) Pottery. (686k) Pottery. (581k) Bowl. (660k) Sculpture. (859k) Sculpture. (817k) Sculpture. (807k)
Dr. Günther Eichhorn Travel Website
Soaring website