Templo Mayor
Archeological site
Templo Mayor
The center of Mexica religious and political life, the extraordinary remains of Templo Mayor stand in the heart of Mexico City. Dedicated to Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli, its treasures include a wall of skulls altar, the House of the Eagles, and a monolithic sculpture of the goddess Coyolxauhqui.
Tenochtitlan was the Mexica’s religious and political center, and their Huey Teocalli or Great Temple was the most important building of this vast pre-Hispanic city. The site was believed to be the confluence of the four cardinal points of the earth and the axis of the three levels of life: the sky, the earth, and the underworld.
The Templo Mayor was expanded seven times; the final iteration, the one seen and destroyed by the Spanish, was an imposing 150 feet high and had a square base with each side measuring 440 yards. The pyramid had two large flights of steps leading to its uppermost part, in front of each of the two temples dedicated to the Mexica’s principal Gods: one temple was built to the north, in honor of Tlaloc (“nectar of the earth”), god of rain and agriculture; and the other to the south, as a shrine to Huitzilopochtli (“left-hummingbird” or “resuscitated warrior”), god of war. With each new extension, the Mexica declared a “flower war”—a ritual war waged against an enemy people in order to take captives and sacrifice them on the day the renovated temple was to be consecrated.
Two sacred mountains were represented in the Huey Teocalli: to the north, Tonacatepetl, hill of sustenance, a food store; and, to the south, Coatepec, hill of serpents and birthplace of Huitzilopochtli.
Opposite the large pyramid stood the circular-based shrine of Ehecatl, the god of wind (a title of Quetzalcoatl). And on the southern edge the tzompantli altar was erected, with an elongated rectangular base on top of which, skewered on pieces of timber held up with tall stakes, were the heads and skeletons of thousands of sacrificial victims and also, it seems, warriors who had died in battle. In front of the Huey Teocalli was the Palace of Axayacatl, residence of Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, a building subsequently occupied by the recently arrived “visitor,” Hernán Cortés.
The main causeways connecting Tenochtitlan to terra firma converged at the Templo Mayor: the road to Iztapalapa to the south, with a branch leading to Coyoacán; the way to Tacuba (Tlacopan) lay to the west and Tepeyac (Tepeyácac) to the north.
The last of the Chichimecs, the Mexica were a people who spent many years spent migrating through Mesoamerica’s northern regions before eventually establishing themselves permanently in the Valley of Mexico. According to historical sources, they claimed to have come from an island on a lake called Aztlan, and they left that site in search of a better place in which to settle on the instructions of their guardian god, Huitzilopochtli.
The location of Aztlan has been a subject of controversy among researchers of pre-Hispanic Mexico, with some believing it was a mythical place that never actually existed, but used by the Mexica to legitimize their past. Others, meanwhile, have attempted to locate it geographically in the north of Mexico’s central highland region.
The date on which Tenochtitlan was founded has also been debated, though most scholars agree on the date 2 Calli, which corresponds to the Common Era date of 1325 AD. Its foundation is accompanied by a whole series of symbols and myths to distinguish this spot chosen by the Mexica’s god for their city. However, there must also have been a predominantly military and economic reason for choosing this area, since the lakes provided a vast range of products and could be defended easily.
In 1914, historian and archeologist Manuel Gamio discovered the south-western corner of the temple and part of a set of steps, pinpointing the location of the Huey Teocalli. Subsequently, in 1978, the fortuitous discovery of the monolithic Moon God, Coyolxauhqui, triggered one of the twentieth century’s most important archeological projects, led by archeologist Eduardo Matos Moctezuma and a multidisciplinary team that worked tirelessly during an initial excavation stage from 1978 to 1982, recovering the remains of Tenochtitlan’s Templo Mayor.
With the findings of more than 7,000 objects during that initial stage of exploration, on October 12, 1987, the doors were opened to the Templo Mayor site museum, designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez.
- Dirección de la Zona Arqueológica y Museo de SitioPatricia Ledesma Bouchanpatricia_ledesma@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 4040 5601, ext. 41295Promoción CulturalMitzy Alcalá Contrerasmitzy_alcala@inah.gob.mx+52 (55) 4040 5607, ext.412933
Punto 1. Etapa IVb. Gobierno de Axayácatl (1469-1481)
Four steps lead to the platform of the fourth construction stage of the pyramid, with a double staircase leading to the upper part where the shrines were located.
Punto 1. Etapa IVb. Gobierno de Axayácatl (1469-1481)
Four steps lead to the platform of the fourth construction stage of the pyramid, with a double staircase leading to the upper part where the shrines were located.
Axayácatl was the sixth tlatoani or lord of Tenochtitlan (1469-1481). At the beginning of his government, he ordered the construction of the second extension of the main façade of the Templo Mayor.
It is worth observing the magnificent sculptures of four serpent heads, next to the staircase. At the ends, there are two serpents with huge undulating bodies, which retain their original color.
In the northern half of the platform, dedicated to Tlaloc, the Altar of Frogs, animals associated with this deity, stands out. At the top there is a small shrine dedicated to the god. In the half dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, there is a slab decorated with carved snakes, embedded in the staircase. At the foot of it is a copy of the monolith of Coyolxauhqui.
Coyolxauhqui: Sculpture of the goddess Coyolxauhqui, it is located at the foot of the staircase of the Templo Mayor in the section dedicated to Huitzilopochtli.
Serpent head: Sculpture of serpent head, is located at the foot of the staircase, in the section of the Temple dedicated to Tlaloc.
Punto 2. Etapa III. Gobierno de Itzcóatl (1427-1440)
From this stage several sculptures can be seen reclining on the steps of the south side, which probably represent the Centzonhuitznahua, those against whom Huitzilopochtli fought at the time of his birth in the Cerro de Coatépec.
Punto 2. Etapa III. Gobierno de Itzcóatl (1427-1440)
From this stage several sculptures can be seen reclining on the steps of the south side, which probably represent the Centzonhuitznahua, those against whom Huitzilopochtli fought at the time of his birth in the Cerro de Coatépec. Due to their characteristics they must have served as standard bearers; some of them have a perforation in the chest where they kept a green stone that symbolized their heart.
Punto 3. Etapa II. Gobierno de Acamapichtli, Huitzilíhuitl y Chimalpopoca (1376-1427)
This stage is the oldest that has been excavated to date. On the south side, dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, is the téchcatl or sacrificial stone, on which enemy warriors were sacrificed in honor of the Sun.
Punto 3. Etapa II. Gobierno de Acamapichtli, Huitzilíhuitl y Chimalpopoca (1376-1427)
This stage is the oldest that has been excavated to date. On the south side, dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, is the téchcatl or sacrificial stone, on which enemy warriors were sacrificed in honor of the Sun. On the north side, dedicated to Tlaloc, we observe a sculpture that still conserves remains of colors and that represents a Chac-Mool or divine messenger, the intermediary between the gods and men. Further in the background we can see the walls of the shrine that also retain traces of painting.
Adoratory of Tlaloc: Tlaloc, god of rain, was venerated by the Mexica and many Mesoamerican peoples since ancient times. This deity was attributed to be in charge of bringing the rain that made harvests possible, but also of bringing the storms that ended them. Inside the shrine, there is a bench on which the image of the god must have been placed. In this part of the building is the best preserved mural painting, whose reproduction can be seen in Room 5 of the museum.
In front of the entrance we can see the polychrome sculpture of a Chac-Mool, with attributes of Tlaloc, that still conserves the original color. In 1989 a tunnel was excavated in the middle of the stairway leading to this shrine and the head of another Chac-Mool was found. This is the oldest Mexica piece found in the Templo Mayor, dating from approximately 1350.
Punto 4. Etapa VI. Gobierno de Ahuízotl (1486-1502)
It is located in front of the patio of the sixth constructive stage, where three adoratories, remains of floors of different stages and the stairs of access to the House of the Eagles can be observed, one of them with eagle heads decorating its alfardas.
Punto 4. Etapa VI. Gobierno de Ahuízotl (1486-1502)
Punto 5. Etapa V y VI gobierno de Ahuítzotl y Moctezuma II (1481-1502)
The House of the Eagles is a Toltec style building that has several rooms, of which only three can be seen since the others are located under Justo Sierra street.
Punto 5. Etapa V y VI gobierno de Ahuítzotl y Moctezuma II (1481-1502)
The House of the Eagles is a Toltec style building that has several rooms, of which only three can be seen since the others are located under Justo Sierra street. In its interior we see bases of columns that supported the roof of the portico, as well as benches decorated with characters that go in procession, on which two ceramic sculptures of natural size were found, representing the eagle warriors; in Room 4 of the Museum one of them can be seen.
In this building the priests carried out private religious ceremonies, such as prayers, spiritual recollection, fasting and sacrifices. The rituals included meditation, prayer, penance and the making of offerings. The building was built and expanded three times between 1430 and 1500. During the tour we can observe two of these three construction stages, the oldest (Stage I) is buried.
Around 1470, during the government of Axayácatl, the building was expanded (Stage II). To know the interior of this precinct today is a privilege that not many Mexica had, because very few had access to it. The House of the Eagles was destroyed during the Conquest and was buried under the church of Santiago Apostle.
Punto 6. Etapa VI. Gobierno Ahuítzotl (1486-1502). Tzompantli
This northern courtyard has several overlapping floors, made to counteract the sinking of the land and the constant flooding that Tenochtitlan suffered.
Punto 6. Etapa VI. Gobierno Ahuítzotl (1486-1502). Tzompantli
This northern courtyard has several overlapping floors, made to counteract the sinking of the land and the constant flooding that Tenochtitlan suffered. The three small buildings that can be seen in front, aligned with the wall of the platform of the Templo Mayor, have been designated with the letters A, B and C. They were built around 1500 (Stage VI). From this point, Building A is the closest. It has two staircases that lead to its upper part, it only conserves a stucco covering.
Red Temple: This small building is inspired in the Teotihuacan constructions. It is similar to the one located in the North Patio. It presents the same architectural characteristics, as well as mural painting on stucco, with similar designs and colors.
Tzompantli Altar, Templo Mayor Museum: Building B or Tzompantli Altar is decorated with rows of human skulls carved in stone.
Etapa IV y V
Stage V corresponds to the government of Tízoc, seventh Mexica ruler. Under his mandate, the building was enlarged between 1481 and 1486; the only witness that remains of the temple is a part of the platform, which survived the Spanish destruction.
Etapa IV y V
Stage V corresponds to the government of Tízoc, seventh Mexica ruler. Under his mandate, the building was enlarged between 1481 and 1486; the only witness that remains of the temple is a part of the platform, which survived the Spanish destruction. During the Viceroyalty, an arch was built directly over the platform and for its construction the Spaniards reused the stones of the ancient pyramids.
Water collector: Under the metallic walkway runs a duct made of bricks. It is a water collector, built around 1900 that crosses under the current Guatemala Street. When this public work was carried out, the Templo Mayor was crossed and all the construction stages were destroyed in a width of two meters. At that time it was thought that the Templo Mayor was buried under the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Braseros de Tláloc: The god of rain, Tláloc, was venerated since ancient times. He was a deity related to life and death who could bring the rains and with them food, or on the contrary, could cause the death of crops and some individuals. Those who died from the water went to Tlalocan, the abode of this god. The braziers located on the Stage IV platform are decorated with the face of Tlalocan. We can recognize in them the round eyes and long fangs that characterize the deity. The complicated adornment of his head represents a folded paper headdress and a diadem of chalchihuites or green stones, crowned with white feathers. The two blue ornaments sculpted on the sides of the headdress seem to represent the clouds that hold the rain that the god makes fall on the earth.
The Templo Mayor teaches us that the past is the reason for the present and also the foundation of the future
