CHOLULA, an ancient town of Mexico, in the State and on the plateau of Puebla, eight miles by rail W. by N. of the city of that name, and situated about 6,912 ft. higher than sea-level. Pop. (193o) 7,197. The Interoceanic railway passes through Cholula, but the city's commercial and industrial standing is over shadowed by that of its larger and more modern neighbour. At the time of the Spanish conquest, Cholula—then known as Cholo lan—was a large and important town, consecrated to the worship of the god Quetzalcoatl, who had here one of the most imposing temples in Anahuac, built on the summit of a truncated pyramid, the largest of its kind in the world. This pyramid, constructed of sun-dried bricks and earth, 177ft. high, and covering an area of nearly 45ac., is the most conspicuous object in the town and was built probably as an imposing site for a temple. Nothing definite is known of its age and history, as the fanatical zeal of Cortes and his companions destroyed whatever historical data the temple may have contained. Cholula was visited by Cortes in 1519 dur ing his eventful march inland to Montezuma's capital, Tenoch titlan, when he treacherously massacred its inhabitants and pil laged the city, pretending to distrust the hospitable inhabitants. Cortes estimated that the town then had 20,00o habitations, and its suburbs as many more, but this was undoubtedly a deliberate exaggeration. The Cholulans were of Nahuatl origin and were semi-independent, yielding only a nominal allegiance to Monte zuma. They were a trading people, holding fairs, and exchanging their manufactures of textiles and pottery for other produce. The pyramid is believed to have been built by a people occupying this region before the Cholulans.