When we hear the word “pyramid” ( 金字塔 ) there is little doubt that Egypt( 埃及 )and the desert come to mind. Did you know, however, that continents and oceans away — in what is today Central America and Mexico — people also built pyramids? While they look somewhat different from the ones we see in Egypt , they also were built with great skill. The pyramids of Central America were built by the Mayan( 玛雅 )and Aztec( 克 )peoples, as well as other smaller groups. Both Mayan and Aztec cultures built pyramids for their gods. They thought that building higher pyramids would allow them to get close to heaven. These cultures believed that the gods were found in nature. One of the most important gods was the sun. Many of the pyramids were for their sun god. At the top of the pyramids they built temples to make the gods happier. However, pyramids were not used only for their gods. Before Europeans came to the area in the 1500s, many of the cultures of the Americas , such as the Mayan and Aztec, had vast knowledge about mathematics and astrology. They thought that the night sky could be used as a mirror to explain many aspects of life, which is the reason why they studied it carefully. The temples on top of the pyramids were also used as places for watching the skies. The Mayans had a solid understanding of the movement of stars and planets. This helped them understand the seasons. They were the first to create a 365-day calendar. After knowing all this about the Mayans and Aztecs, it is not difficult to believe that the biggest pyramid in the world is in Mexico , the pyramid “ Cholula ” in the city of Puebla . It is so big that now it looks more like a mountain than a pyramid because grass and other plants are growing all over it.