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The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is the third largest pyramid at Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian site in central Mexico.

The Temple of the Feathered Serpent and the gold-coloured spheres | Ancient Origins Skip to main content User menu AboutAbout us Meet the Team In the Media We Give Back User Rewards Expeditions Site Map Membership Site Submissions Login Register Links MediaGallery Video BooksBook Reviews Recommended Books EventsEvents Forums Contact Tours Membership Menu User Menu News Human Origins History Artifacts Myths Places Unexplained Weird Facts Forums About Submissions Premium App Tours Ancestry DNA Free Ebooks Magazine Login Register FREE Premium Membership Contact Tours Premium App Ancestry DNA Free EBooks Magazine All   All Artifacts -Ancient Technology -Ancient Writings -Other ArtifactsNews -General -History & Archaeology -Science & Space -Evolution & Human Origins -Mysterious PhenomenaHuman Origins -Science -Religions -FolkloreMyths & Legends -Europe -Asia -Americas -Australia -Africa -AntarcticaAncient Places -Europe -Asia -Americas -Australia & Oceania -Africa -AntarcticaUnexplained PhenomenaWeird FactsVideoOpinion -Guest Authors -Editorials -Letters to the Editor -Author ProfilesHistory -Ancient Traditions -Important Events -Famous PeoplePremium -Preview -Subscribe NewsGeneral History & Archaeology Science & Space Evolution & Human Origins Mysterious Phenomena Human OriginsScience Religions Folklore HistoryAncient Traditions Famous People Important Events ArtifactsAncient Technology Ancient Writings Other Artifacts MythsEurope Asia Americas Australia Africa PlacesEurope Asia Americas Australia & Oceania Africa Antarctica Unexplained Weird Facts PremiumPreview Subscribe SHOP News General History & Archaeology Science & Space Evolution & Human Origins Mysterious Phenomena Home / News Updated 2 May, 2013 - 08:23 aprilholloway The Temple of the Feathered Serpent and the gold-coloured spheres Read Later  Print The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is the third largest pyramid at Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian site in central Mexico.  Constructed in 200 AD, the six-level step pyramid was built using hundreds of enormous stone blocks that were majestically sculpted, harmoniously integrating the sculpture and the architecture in order to create this unique monument. The structure is notable partly due to the discovery in the 1980s of more than a hundred sacrifice victims found buried beneath the structure. SkipAds by The pyramid takes its name from representations of the Mesoamerican "feathered serpent" deity which covered its sides. These are some of the earliest-known representations of the feathered serpent, often identified with the much-later Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Temple of the Feathered Serpent. Photo credit: Wikipedia In May 2013, a team of archaeologists used a camera-equipped  robot, to explore beneath the  Temple of the Feathered Serpent . What they found was unprecedented – hundreds of gold-coloured metallic spheres scattered in two chambers which lie underneath the pyramid. The mysterious spheres, which are gold in colour, range in size from 1.5 to 5 inches. They have an inner core of clay and are covered in a material called jarosite, which is formed by the oxidation of pyrite, a metallic ore. More From The Web The Best Walking Shoes for Men to Wear All Day Long Without Getting Tired LENSIEH The Incredible New BMW Lineup Has Arrived Card deals | Search ads "They look like yellow spheres, but we do not know their meaning. It's an unprecedented discovery," said Jorge Zavala, an archaeologist at Mexico's National Anthropology and History Institute. According to George Cowgill, professor emeritus at Arizona State University and the author of several publications on Teotihuacan, the spheres would have shown up brilliantly in their time. Even the walls and ceiling of the chambers were covered with a mineral power composed of magnetite, pyrite and hematite which created a brightness in the areas. As well as the spheres, archaeologists also found many other items including pottery and wooden masks covered in crystal, jade and quartz, indicating that the chambers were used by high-ranking people, priests or even rulers to perform rituals. The next stage of the project will involve an exploration of three more chambers which archaeologists have seen through the robot cameras. "The tunnel is in pristine condition, untouched for almost two millennia," said Ng Tze Chuen, an independent researcher who worked on the design of the Tláloc II-TC robot. "Can you can imagine what can be found inside?" The team of researchers are hoping that the final chamber may lead to one of the most significant archaeological finds in Teotihuacan – the remains of those who ruled there. By April Holloway             Section: NewsHistory & Archaeology Tags: templeMexicoSpheresTeotihuacanTlaloc April April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan.Joanna... Read More Read the Comments (3 Comments) Login or Register in order to comment Comments Lucius Sorrentino wrote on 31 October, 2014 - 12:26 I cited Wikipedia. I assume you can access it. Jared wrote on 30 October, 2014 - 12:58 It would have been nice if you had included a photograph of the actual item being discussed. Lucius wrote on 27 February, 2014 - 20:57 Since it is not certain who built Teotihuacan, what are the means and methods archeologist determine the date of its construction? Wikipedia cites 200BCE as the earliest date for construction there with building going on for at least the next 400+ years. The author of this article states affirmatively that "the Temple of the Feathered Serpent... [was] constructed in 200 AD." The date seems to derive from the fact "in the 1980s more than a hundred possibly-sacrificial victims [were] found buried beneath the structure. The burials, like the structure, are dated to some time between 150 and 200 CE." [Wikipedia]. But whence this certainty as to the date of construction? What have these skeletons to do with its construction? It's pretty clear now that the Pyramids of Giza were NOT burial tombs, so why the connection between skeletal remains and time of construction at Teotihuacan? Sponsored Content SkipAds by April April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan.Joanna... Read More (3 Comments) Related Articles on Ancient-Origins 28 December, 2022 - 17:57 Sahir Petra Historic World Heritage Site Blasted By Flash Floods In another case of nature’s wrath rearing its head, flash floods have struck the iconic world heritage site at Petra, Jordan, forcing the evacuation of 1,700 tourists . A whopping 66 millimeters of... 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