When people hear the word "pyramid," they often picture the sun-scorched sands of Egypt and the monumental tombs of the pharaohs. But halfway across the world, buried beneath a grassy hill and crowned with a colonial church, lies the largest pyramid by volume ever built on Earth — the Great Pyramid of Cholula in modern-day Puebla, Mexico.
Known in the indigenous Nahuatl language as Tlachihualtepetl, meaning “man-made mountain,” this awe-inspiring structure was not just a feat of engineering but a living religious center, evolving through centuries of ritual, conquest, and cultural layering.
Bigger Than Giza: The Pyramid Few Know
Dimensions: At its peak, the Great Pyramid of Cholula stood about 66 meters (217 ft) tall, with a base of 450 by 450 meters (1,480 x 1,480 ft) — giving it a greater volume than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Hidden in plain sight: Over time, it became overgrown and covered in vegetation, and when the Spanish arrived, they mistook it for a natural hill. They built the Church of Our Lady of Remedies (Nuestra Señora de los Remedios) on top — a symbolic act of religious dominance.
What was once a spiritual heart of the indigenous world was quietly repurposed into a Christian landmark, hiding one of pre-Hispanic Mexico’s greatest architectural wonders.
A Pyramid Built Over Centuries
Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, which were typically constructed in a single burst, Cholula’s pyramid was built in layers, each reflecting a different era and people:
First stage (~3rd century BCE): Likely started by the Olmec-Xicalanca people.
Multiple expansions (up to the 9th century CE): Each new phase enlarged and encased the previous one, creating a step-like internal structure reminiscent of Russian nesting dolls.
Total volume: Over 4.45 million cubic meters, compared to Giza’s 2.5 million.
This gradual construction illustrates how the site remained spiritually important for over 1,000 years, passed between cultures yet continuously revered.
The Spiritual Heart of a Sacred City
The city of Cholula was once a major religious and commercial hub in Mesoamerica, rivaling even Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan in influence. At its height:
It had dozens of temples, ritual plazas, and altars, many surrounding the great pyramid.
It hosted large pilgrimages and festivals, attracting worshippers from across central Mexico.
The pyramid likely honored the god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent deity associated with wisdom, wind, and rebirth.
Rather than being a tomb, Cholula’s pyramid served as a temple and ceremonial platform, where priests conducted rituals, made sacrifices, and interpreted omens from the gods.
Tunnel into the Past
Today, archaeologists have excavated over 8 kilometers (5 miles) of tunnels beneath the pyramid, revealing:
Murals, such as the Mural of the Drinkers, depicting a massive ritual feast.
Altar rooms, ceramic offerings, and human remains.
Evidence of burned layers, suggesting rituals involving fire — likely symbolic of purification or sacrifice.
These tunnels not only allow us to literally walk into the pyramid's past, but also help reconstruct the religious practices and mythologies of the people who built it.
Cholula Under Spanish Rule: A Layered Legacy
When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1519, led by Hernán Cortés, Cholula was one of the largest cities in the Americas. After a brutal massacre of its population, the Spanish built churches on top of many native temples — most notably atop the pyramid itself.
The Church of Our Lady of Remedies still stands there today, a Christian monument atop an indigenous sacred site, visually and symbolically marking the layering of cultural histories.
Cholula’s Role Today
The pyramid is now a protected archaeological zone and a UNESCO World Heritage site (as part of the city of Puebla).
It remains a symbol of indigenous endurance and spiritual continuity.
Local festivals continue to blend pre-Columbian and Catholic traditions, preserving the city’s hybrid cultural identity.
