The Great Pyramid of Cholula

Cholula’s pyramid is the largest pyramid in the world by volume beating out the Great Pyramid at Giza. Its earliest stage of construction occurred in the 3rd century BC during the Late Formative and had three subsequent construction stages until the pyramid was abandoned in the 9th century. It is believed that the pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Excavations into the pyramids have revealed brightly painted murals that once decorated the outside.

The last three pictures show various interpretations of how the pyramid may have looked in the past. Because the majority of the pyramid is built with adobe brick and locals have mined the structure for its stone covering over the centuries combined with the torrential rains that Puebla experiences the structure has slowly melted over time. When the Spanish came through Cholula they thought the pyramid was actually a hill and built a church on top of it. The Postclassic pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl located across the plaza from the Classic period pyramid was torn down and used as construction material for the church that now occupies the same space.