The Great Pyramid of Cholula, Tlachihualtepetl, or “handmade mountain” in Nahuatl (the Aztec language of Central Mexico), is located in the ancient city of Cholula, which was originally constructed as a holy city. Cholula means “place of refuge” in Nahuatl. Before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Cholula was one of the largest cities and principal religious centers in Mexico, with a multiethnic population of between 60,000 and 100,000. Standing 180 feet, the pyramid was almost twice the volume of the Great Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt. Successive civilizations added to what had already been built, a process which resulted in the giant pyramid-disguised-as-a-hill of today. This temple was constructed to honor Quetzalcóatl, the feathered Mesoamerican serpent god.

In 1519, Hernan Cortés arrived in Cholula with his army of conquistadors. Events leading up to the conquest are contested: at least 12 different authors wrote or painted diverse accounts of what occurred in Cholula. The result of these events, though, was undisputed: Spanish conquistadors attacked and killed thousands of Cholulans, in what became known as “the Cholula massacre”.

In 1574, long after Mexico was overpowered by the Spanish, a church was built on the top of Tlachihualtepetl. The church was named Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, or Our Lady of the Remedies, in English.

Cholula is now considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both the church and ancient ruins beneath it are open to tourists year-round. The site attracts 220,000 visitors annually.

Internet: <sacredland.org> (adapted).

Concerning the text, judge the following items. 

According to the text, there is disagreement as to what happened before the massacre in Cholula.