Filmed from an archaeological perspective with computerized reconstructions, these short documentaries highlight prominent locations and consider daily life at two of ancient Mexico’s most extraordinary sites. Programs are offered in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Teotihuacán: The City of the Gods (2001, 28 min.)
Reputedly the first great city of the Western hemisphere, Teotihuacán, the City of the Gods, is also one of the most mysterious. Who lived there? What were its inhabitants like? And why did their culture collapse? In this program, archaeologist Ruben Cabrera Castro, codirector of the site, leads the way down the Avenue of the Dead—and inside both the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, normally closed to the public. The city’s political, religious, commercial, and artistic influences on subsequent societies are considered.
Chichén Itzá: At the Mouth of the Well (2001, 27 min.)
The fusion of Mayan construction techniques with later elements from central Mexico makes Chichén Itzá one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán. In this program, archaeological footage and computer re-creations spotlight prominent locations in the city, including the imposing Pyramid of Kukulcán, the Temple of the Warriors, the circular observatory known as El Caracol, the largest ball court in Mesoamerica, and the Well of Sacrifice—a sacred water-filled cenote into which votive offerings and human sacrifices were cast.
To request an accessibility accommodation for a Kimbell program, please email us as far in advance as possible.
