Templo Mayor

Templo Mayor (Great Temple) is an Aztec temple recently discovered in the modern center of Mexico City. It was built in the 14th century in honor of the Aztec god of war also the god of water.

According to some Aztec legend, Templo Mayor was built here because an eagle was seen climbed on a cactus, devouring a snake, a sign given to them by their gods.

The construction of the temple began sometime after 1325 AD and was expanded in the next two centuries. During the Spanish conquest (1521), the site was the center of religious life for the city of 300,000. The temple was almost completely destroyed by the Spaniards after the conquest of Tenochtitlan and was completely lost until an Aztec sculpture was discovered in the heart of Mexico in 1978. This led to extensive excavations, which led to the discovery of the ruins of the Templo Mayor.

Like other sacred buildings in Tenochtitlán, the temple was enlarged several times, with each rebuilding accompanied by the sacrifice of captured warriors. All the seven the construction phases can be verified here, at the Templo Mayor, whereas each new one covered the old like a shell.

Templo Mayor is a large stone pyramid with long stairs, familiar temples seen throughout Mexico. Twin temples located on the site of the Temple Mayor were dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, and Tlaloc, god of rain.

These gods have been frequently honest with the human sacrifices, which took place on an altar built on the pyramid. The victim was placed face up on a block of volcanic stone and then murdered with a obsidian knife. The body was then thrown down the stairs.

On the lower platform of the pyramid was situated once a round stone (now in the museum of the site), and represent the members of the Aztec goddess of the moon, Coyolxauhqui. According to of the Aztec mythology, she was killed by her brother Huitzilopochtli, because she killed their mother. The Goddess remained cursed, she reign all the night, but she die at each sunrise, ahe was murdered by the sun god.

The Templo Mayor itself is an impressive piece of archaeology.

If you want to get a better idea about this temple you can visit the covered museum inside the archaeological site - Museo del Templo Mayor - opened on October 12, 1987.

The Museo del Templo Mayor has an impresive collection of Aztec artifacts. Here you will discover the real story of this temple and in the same time a detailed scale model of the old city. Here you will find all the artifacts discovered during within the temple ruins, including the monolith of the goddess Coyolxauhqui, rubber balls, reliefs, sculptures, obsidian knives and many other objects. The museum has eight halls. The halls in the south wing are dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, God of War, and the halls in the north wing to Tláloc, God of Rain.

If you want to visit the museum you must know a few information like: the museum si opened from Tuesday to Sunday - 9 am to 5 pm. On Sundays, admission is free for Mexican citizens and foreign residents (with proof of residency). If you want to take photos you must have a permit or to pay a tax (you will find there all the informations you need avbout Video & Photography at archaeological sites in Mexico).
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