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snagglepuss

(12,704 posts)
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 01:05 PM Apr 2013

Robot discovers 3 unexplored passages in 2,000-year-old tunnel near the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico

A tiny robot has made a momentous archaeological discovery deep under the famous Temple of Quetzalcoatl, near the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, it was announced on Monday.


Experts expected to find just one ancient chamber at the end of a stretch of 2,000-year-old unexplored tunnel at the Teotihuacan site. Instead, the remote-controlled vehicle has beamed back images of three mysterious caverns.


The three-foot-long investigator, named Tlaloc II-TC after the Aztec god of rain, was first lowered into the depths of the pyramid to check it was safe for human entry


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2313312/Robot-discovers-unexplored-passages-2-000-year-old-tunnel-near-Pyramid-Sun-Mexico.html#ixzz2RJ6KiQmd
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Robot discovers 3 unexplored passages in 2,000-year-old tunnel near the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico (Original Post) snagglepuss Apr 2013 OP
k and r niyad Apr 2013 #1
That's an amazing place to see get the red out Apr 2013 #2
I know, been there and seen that. RebelOne Apr 2013 #5
Short legs are a definite disadvantage Tansy_Gold Apr 2013 #28
Where's that poster that said the meteor a couple months back was due to people snooper2 Apr 2013 #3
Cool. MinneapolisMatt Apr 2013 #4
I want to know where the Aztecs got a three-foot robot! Orrex Apr 2013 #6
Bestbuycapec JHB Apr 2013 #15
Nice! Orrex Apr 2013 #16
"This DU Member is not permitted to post replies to this thread." greiner3 Apr 2013 #27
lol lovemydog Apr 2013 #26
Quetzalcoatl creator of humans Ichingcarpenter Apr 2013 #7
Theoretically, we have no idea who the temple was dedicated to when it was built. a la izquierda Apr 2013 #10
I'm sure it is a lot more solid "theory" than that. I'm sure there are temple inscriptions. Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2013 #14
As far as I know inscriptions from Teo haven't been deciphered yet. a la izquierda Apr 2013 #17
... another 'son of a virgin' ... Myrina Apr 2013 #11
Good thing he had some good bones to use Ichingcarpenter Apr 2013 #18
I hope they figure out... a la izquierda Apr 2013 #8
They left no written language, so it's gonna be difficult. They had contact with the Classical geek tragedy Apr 2013 #9
I know. a la izquierda Apr 2013 #12
What do you think of the theory that Teotihuacan 'conquered' Tikal? nt geek tragedy Apr 2013 #13
Well, it's sort of weird. a la izquierda Apr 2013 #20
I always thought it was bragging on the part of Tikal's rulers of their powerful new friends. geek tragedy Apr 2013 #22
Oooh, jealous. a la izquierda Apr 2013 #23
Yes, all three are fascinating in their own right. You won't believe the murals at Bonampak. geek tragedy Apr 2013 #24
Daily Mail is a total rag Coyotl Apr 2013 #19
Finally we will learn that the AMWAY GODS created the universe. olddots Apr 2013 #21
I get so excited when I read about things such as this madokie Apr 2013 #25
Very, very cool Hekate Apr 2013 #29
A quick look at the robot in question; greiner3 Apr 2013 #30

RebelOne

(30,947 posts)
5. I know, been there and seen that.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 01:35 PM
Apr 2013

I tried climbing the pyramid, but could only get a quarter of the way up because the steps got higher and higher and my legs just were not long enough.

Tansy_Gold

(17,855 posts)
28. Short legs are a definite disadvantage
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 04:05 PM
Apr 2013

but I did manage it -- when I was much younger than I am now.





 

snooper2

(30,151 posts)
3. Where's that poster that said the meteor a couple months back was due to people
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 01:17 PM
Apr 2013

disturbing the sun god

What's going to happen this time LOL

Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
7. Quetzalcoatl creator of humans
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:18 PM
Apr 2013

Quetzalcoatl

by Micha F. Lindemans
"Feathered Snake". One of the major deities of the Aztec, Toltecs, and other Middle American peoples. He is the creator sky-god and wise legislator. He organized the original cosmos and participated in the creation and destruction of various world periods.

Quetzalcoatl ruled the fifth world cycle and created the humans of that cycle. The story goes that he descended to Mictlan, the underworld, and gathered the bones of the human beings of the previous epochs. Upon his return, he sprinkled his own blood upon these bones and fashioned thus the humans of the new era.

He is also a god of the wind (the wind-god Ehecatl is one of his forms), as well as a water-god and fertility-god.

He is regarded as a son of the virgin goddess Coatlicue and as the twin brother of Xolotl. As the bringer of culture he introduced agriculture (maize) and the calendar and is the patron of the arts and the crafts.



Just so you know who the temple is named after.

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
10. Theoretically, we have no idea who the temple was dedicated to when it was built.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:25 PM
Apr 2013

We only know who it is dedicated to now.

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
17. As far as I know inscriptions from Teo haven't been deciphered yet.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:03 PM
Apr 2013

So, while there are Feathered Serpents on the temple, we have no clue what the actual name of the deity is. Probably it wasn't Quetzalcoatl, but maybe a variant of that word.
Admittedly, I haven't paid much attention to the site in awhile. But I do recall reading something about pictograms that archaeologists have been working on.
In my next life, I'll be an archaeologist. For now, being a historian will ahve to do.

Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
18. Good thing he had some good bones to use
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:05 PM
Apr 2013

that had a good DNA sample in it to create us.

LOL.. now about adam's rib.

The temple is covered with images of this god thus the naming of the temple but this demigod comes up in Toltec, Olmec and Mayan religions also

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
8. I hope they figure out...
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:23 PM
Apr 2013

who the people who actually lived at Teo were, what they spoke, etc. They weren't Aztec, although the Aztecs named the location (Teotihuacan means "place of the gods&quot .

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
9. They left no written language, so it's gonna be difficult. They had contact with the Classical
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:24 PM
Apr 2013

Mayans in Tikal.

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
12. I know.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 02:26 PM
Apr 2013

I study Mesoamerican indigenous peoples for a living. There have been some tantalizing discoveries of pictograms found at Teo. But no translation yet.

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
20. Well, it's sort of weird.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:06 PM
Apr 2013

Teotihuacan seemed to have an army of some kind, but more for defensive purposes from what I remember. Their influence was cultural and I'd imagine political. So I think you're spot on to use conquered in quotes, because it doesn't seem to have been a military conquest.
My specialty is a bit more modern than Teo (Classic period and beyond), but Teotihuacan is like my own personal Disney World. I love the place, even though a million ocarinas being played at once is a little grating on my ears

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
22. I always thought it was bragging on the part of Tikal's rulers of their powerful new friends.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:08 PM
Apr 2013

I could never figure out why/how a civilization without writing that conquered another would continue the clever propaganda writings of the conquered civilization, so I'm with you.

have never been to Teotihuacan--mostly Chiapas and south.

a la izquierda

(11,791 posts)
23. Oooh, jealous.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:17 PM
Apr 2013

I've not been to Chiapas yet. I have a four month trip to Mexico planned for next summer, and I'll do the "Big 3" down there (Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Bonampak).
I've most ranged all over Yucatan and western Mexico. My research is in the western part of the country.

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
24. Yes, all three are fascinating in their own right. You won't believe the murals at Bonampak.
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:20 PM
Apr 2013

The carvings at Yaxchilan are exquisite. And Palenque is Palenque.

Boat ride to Yaxchilan is fun too--look out for crocodiles.

I made the mistake of seeing Coba right after I saw those three--it didn't compare well at all.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
25. I get so excited when I read about things such as this
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 03:23 PM
Apr 2013

At our home place we have a cave that is largely unexplored. Me not being a spelunker I won't be the one to do that exploring either. This cave is only about a quarter mile from where one of the big battles of the civil war between the confederates and the Cherokees was fought. When we were kids we used to find all kinds of artifacts from that era in this area like rusted cap and ball guns, a pistol and a long gun and lots of uniform buttons and saddle and horse halter pieces etc. Mostly brass.

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