View source for Great Pyramid of Xichútepa

{{Infobox
| above       = Տլեկո Իուիկ ին Կուաիտլ Տլատոանի
| title       = Great Pyramid of Xichútepa
| image1      = [[File:Gran Pirámide de Cholula, Puebla, México, 2013-10-12, DD 10.JPG|300px|center|Ruins of the pyramid.]]
| caption1    = <center>Ruins of the pyramid.</center>
| header2     = 
{{Infobox pyramid
| child       = yes
| owner       = [[File:Coat of arms of Argentina.svg|25px|link=Ministry of Internal Affairs of Creeperopolis]] [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of Creeperopolis|Ministry of Internal Affairs]]
| ancient     = Տլեկո Իուիկ ին Կուաիտլ Տլատոանի<br />Tleko Iuik in Kuaitl Tlatoani<br /><small>Rise of the Head Chief</small>
| date        = 200BC – 145BC
| type        = Step pyramid
| material    = Stone
| height      = 196 pi 10 pl<br /><small>(180 ft; 55 m)</small>
| base        = 1,619 pi x 1,619 pi<br /><small>(1,480 ft x 1,480 ft; 451 m x 451 m)</small>
| volume      = 
| slope       = 
}}
| header3     =
{{Infobox historic site
| embed                   = yes
| designation1            = PNHL
| designation1_type       = Cultural
| designation1_date       = 15 September 2006
| designation1_free1name  = Designated by
| designation1_free1value = [[Alexander II of Creeperopolis|Alexander II]]
| designation1_free2name  = Department 
| designation1_free2value = [[Salvador (viceroyalty)|Salvador]]
}}
}}

The '''Great Pyramid of Xichútepa''' ([[Xichútepan language|Xichútepan]]: Տլեկո Իուիկ ին Կուաիտլ Տլատոանի, {{small|transliteration:}} ''Tleko Iuik in Kuaitl Tlatoani'', literally meaning "Rise of the Head Chief"; [[Creeperian language|Creeperian]]: Գրան Պիրըմիդե դե Խիճղտեպա / ''Gran Pirámide de Xichútepa'') is a pyramid that was built during the [[Creeperian Confederation]] in the city of [[Xichútepa]]. The pyramid is the largest in the world by volume and surface area, surpassing the [[Great Pyramid of Hashan]]. The pyramid was abandoned in 540AD but rediscovered in 2006. It was designated as a [[Creeperopolis National Historical Landmarks|Creeperopolis National Historical Landmark]] on 15 September 2006.

== Construction ==

[[Xichútepa]] was founded by [[Axayacatl I of Creeperopolis|Axayacatl I]] of the [[Chihueta Tribe]] around 220BC, near the establishment of the [[Creeperian Confederation]]. It has been hypothesized that the city pre-dates the confederation, either by years or simply by months. 

In 200BC, Axayacatl I commissioned one of the most ambitious construction projects in ancient history, the construction of the Great Pyramid of Xichútepa. Axayacatl I died two years into its construction in 198BC, but his son and successor, [[Axayacatl II of Creeperopolis|Axayacatl II]], continued construction of the pyramid.

During the construction of the pyramid, the resources of the confederation were strained. The confederation had a process of selecting its [[Monarchy of Creeperopolis|Kuaitl Tlatoani]], which was having an election between the seven tribes and selecting one of the tribes' eighteen-year-old sons of the current leader of the tribes, who fathered at least one son every year for this exact reason. In 161BC, the [[Iloqutzi Tribe]] under its leader, [[Yaotl of Iloqutzi (born before 220BC)|Yaotl]], started a [[Revolt of the Iloqutzi|revolt]] in an effort to gain independence from the confederation. Yaotl's forces were defeated in the [[Battle of Xolotlan]] in May 161BC, but his forces continued resistance. Confederation forces under Axayacatl II dealt a decisive defeat against Yaotl's forces in August 161BC in the [[Battle of Otompan]]. Yaotl died in battle, and his son and successor, also named [[Yaotl of Iloqutzi (born 200BC)|Yaotl]], was forced to agree to permanently bar his tribe from future contention for the title of ''Kuaitl Tlatoani'', but his tribe could still have a say in the electoral process.

When Axayacatl II died in 160BC, construction was continued by [[Xipilli I of Creeperopolis|Xipilli I]], but he died shortly afterwards in 156BC, and his successor, [[Xiuhcoatl I of Creeperopolis|Xiuhcoatl I]], completed the pyramid in 145BC. The pyramid was 196 pies (180 feet; 55 meters) tall and had a base perimeter of 1,619 pies (1,480 feet; 451 meters) by 1,619 pies (1,480 feet; 451 meters). Upon completion, the pyramid became the largest pyramid in the world by volume and surface area covered, even topping the [[Great Pyramid of Hashan]], but the pyramid remains taller than the pyramid at Xichútepa. The pyramid was the largest and tallest structure on [[Sur]] when it was completed. During the existence of the Creeperian Confederation, the pyramid was referred to as the "Rise of the Head Chief."

== Use ==

Xiuhcoatl I enacted a welfare policy known as the ''Imakaka in Sentli'', translated as the the ''[[Giving of the Maize]]'', in 139BC in Xichútepa. The policy gave the poorest 30% of peasants in Xichútepa and the surrounding area maize free of charge, cutting out their largest expense in an effort to help them raise themselves out of poverty. The ''Imakaka in Sentli'' is considered the first welfare system in Creeperian history. The system remained in effect continuously, with a notable absence from 533AD to 537AD during a civil war, until 745AD. Xiuhcoatl I died in 130BC and was succeeded by [[Acolmixtli I of Creeperopolis|Acolmixtli I]] of the Imnoqueti Tribe. Acolmixtli I continued the ''Imakaka in Sentli'', and in 120BC, he increased the range of those eligible from the poorest 30% to the poorest 35%. Modern historians believe that the ''Imakaka in Sentli'' was distributed from the Great Pyramid of Xichútepa from 139BC until 540AD.

== Abandonment ==

In 540AD, [[Felipe I of Creeperopolis|Felipe I]] converted to [[Creeperian Catholic Church|Catholicism]] and he ordered the destruction and abandonment of the city of Xichútepa on the pretense of "destroying the old pagan religion." By 600AD, the location of the city, including the pyramid, was lost to the [[Creeperans]].

== Rediscovery ==

Over the centuries, several efforts have been made to rediscover the location of the city of Xichútepa and the Great Pyramid of Xichútepa. Efforts were made by [[Adolfo I of Creeperopolis|Adolfo I]] in 1372, [[Adolfo III of Creeperopolis|Adolfo III]] in 1844, and [[Antonio Sáenz Heredia]] in 1903. 

In 1977, [[Adolfo V of Creeperopolis|Adolfo V]] ordered renewed excavations near the city of [[Puerto Francisco]] to locate and discover the city's ruins. On 14 May 1978, archeologists found ruins at an excavation site, and upon further digging, they found stone engravings bearing the names of Axayacatl I and Axayacatl II. They concluded that they had find the lost city of Xichútepa. The following day, the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of Creeperopolis|Ministry of Internal Affairs]] took control of the entire site and declared it a [[Creeperopolis National Historical Landmarks|Creeperopolis National Historical Landmark]]. Excavations continued until 1987, when they were halted by [[Romero III of Creeperopolis|Romero III]], citing monetary issues.

Excavations resumed in 2004 under [[Alexander II of Creeperopolis|Alexander II]], with the intent goal of rediscovering the Great Pyramid of Xichútepa. In April 2006, the pyramid was discovered to have been built under the site of the [[Church of Our Lady of Salvador]]. The [[Ministry of Internal Affairs of Creeperopolis|Ministry of Internal Affairs]] has cooperated with the Creeperian Catholic Church on excavation efforts of the pyramid, and on 15 September 2006, designated it as a [[Creeperopolis National Historical Landmarks|Creeperopolis National Historical Landmark]], its own separate landmark from the city itself. The pyramid is continuing to be excavated.

== Gallery ==

<gallery class="center">
File:Teocalli vid Cholula, Nordisk familjebok bd 4.png|A drawing of the pyramid.
File:ModelCholula2.JPG|A model of the pyramid.
</gallery>

== See also ==

*[[Xichútepa]]

{{Creeperopolis topics}}

[[Category:Creeperopolis]]
[[Category:Creeperopolis RP]]
[[Category:Creeperopolis Terraconserva]]
[[Category:Terraconserva]]
[[Category:Creeperopolis National Historical Landmarks]]