Tula Archaeological Ruins: We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; for some of the information and photos on our web page. We share our information and images with Wikipedia. The archaeological ruins of Tula are located in the Mexican state of Hildalgo near the community of Tula de Allende or simply Tula, about 50 kilometers northwest of Mexico City. Tula is considered to be the candidate for Tollan, the legendary capital of the Toltec Empire, which was founded in about 750 A.D. when the Teotihuacan empire was in the process of falling apart. Between about 900 A.D. and 1,100 A.D. during the height of Tula's power, it covered an area of some five square miles, with a population of perhaps as high as 60,000. Tula's environment included a reedy marsh with adjacent hills and slopes. Within this varied landscape environment there are hundreds of mounds and terraces, representing residential structures in a well planned city, with alleys, passageways, and paved streets. The old city of Tula had a great historical relevance in Mesoamerica, and it constitutes an important link in the chain of civilizations of the Central Altiplano. Founded after Teotihuac�n was destroyed, it is known nowadays by its main pyramid, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, or temple of the morning star, on whose top the Telamons of Tula stand. 4.6 meter high statues, representing Toltec gods, they are believed to be the columns of a wooden roof the temple had.You can go up this pyramid to observe the telamons closely, and appreciate the whole archeological complex. It is worth mentioning that only some of the statues have resisted the blows of time, so several of them have been rebuilt. The most interesting of the other buildings is perhaps Coatepantli, or the wall of the snakes, whose name comes from the reliefs on the north face of the pyramid, which shows snakes eating human beings. Near, in front of the Palacio Quemado (Burnt Palace), we find the Chacmool, an inclined statue of a priest on whose chest there is a bowl where they deposited the offerings to the gods. Tula was the capital city of the Toltec Indian Empire. The ruins can still be found forty miles northwest of present day Mexico City which is located on the northern edge of Mesoamerica. It is situated in the Mexican state of Hidalgo and is placed near the modern town of Tula de Allende. The area is in the Valley of Aahuac or what is now called the Valley of Mexico. It is one of the most arid regions where little can be grown, with the exception of maguey, an intrinsic supplier of needles, sap and other products used by the Toltecs. In addition, the city is located on a natural promontory with steep slopes surrounding the city on three sides. The city rose to power after the collapse of Teotihuacan to take control of the basin of Mexico at approximately 968 AD. Even though the city attempted to fill the political shoes of Teotihuacan, the evidence shows that the city was much smaller. The city is laid out on a grid pattern with a ceremonial core and surrounded by pyramids. The city was organized into households which are approximately 1,970 feet (600 meters) square. Inside of these formal households were square or rectangular flat-roofed houses which were grouped into as many as five dwellings which all shared a shrine. The city ruins are characterized by giant stone warriors placed at the temples by the Toltecs. It's maximum size and power was achieved between 950 and 1150 AD and its largest population was between 40,000 and 60,000 people. Its largest geographic size was between 13 and 16 square kilometers. There is much archeological evidence that shows that Tula had lost much of its power and was at least partially abandoned by the year 1200 AD. Many experts think this phenomenon occurred due to a drought and famine which ravaged the city. With the collapse of the city, the temples and pyramids of Tula were razed by other Indian tribes. In Tula, Toltec society grew increasingly militaristic. The knightly orders of jaguar and eagle warriors and the practice of massive human sacrifices are likely to have begun there. The heavily fortified city took on a somber air as war and death became the dominant themes in stone work. Curiously, Tula's idiosyncratic warrior statues, the great Atlantes, are apparently representations not of Tezcatlipoca, but of Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, the Plumed Serpent in his guise as Morning Star. The influence of the Toltecs was widespread. Artifacts bearing traits of the culture have appeared throughout much of Mexico and even in far off sites in the U.S. southwest and southeast. The Toltecs mysteriously disappeared in the 11th Ccentury. Tula was violently laid to waste in the 12th century, probably at the hand of a people called the Chichimecas, believed to have arrived about a century after the Toltecs' disappearance. Their civilization was far inferior to that of the Toltecs and the 18th century Mexican historian Mariano Veyta describes them as "burrowing in caves or, at best, in cabins of straw." The old legends also tell that the Toltec�s, in their march toward the south led by Quetzalcoatl, (A High Priest Of Tula - Not The God Quetzalcoatl), arrived at Chich�n Itz� (an archeological zone located in the Yucatan Peninsula) where they built a new capital fusing with the Mayan culture and tradition. You might note that there is a resemblance of the Temple Of The Warriors in Chich�n Itz� to one structure in Tula. Another sideline to the famous Telamons of Tula comes to us from the author, Erich von D�niken who wrote about them in his first book, "Chariots of the Gods," which was an immediate bestseller in the United States, Germany, and later on in 38 other countries. In the United States, Erich von D�niken also won instant fame as a result of the television special "In Search of Ancient Astronauts," based upon "Chariots of the Gods". In his books and television shows, Von D�niken claimed that intelligent extraterrestrial life exists and has entered our Solar System in the past, and that evidence of this past contact is abundant. (One is the Telamon figures of Tula). He also claims that human evolution may have been manipulated through means of genetic engineering by these extraterrestrial beings. In his book and on his television show, he called the "Telamons of Tula" Atlantis or Atlantes Figures. They were from the lost continent of Atlantis or maybe from outer space. Erich von D�niken also says that the space aliens may have even visited Chich�n Itz�. He also claims that they had "Ray Guns" strapped to their waists. Just for the fun of it; you may want to look for those things when you visit the site. Ya, they are there! You will see them! OK!, If you can't go there; look carefully at some of our photos of the Atlantes Figures. You will see the Ray Guns! Tula is not visited as much as many other sites near Mexico City, but if you have the time, it is well worth your time to do so. We have been in Tula three times, once in 1982, in 1988, and on November 18, 2011. The arrangement of their many displays have changed over the years. When in Tula de Allende we also visited the Catedral Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, Mexico. It is a nice place to visit. We recommend visiting the town also.