Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Model of Tenochtitlán's Sacred Center
Right
Aztec stone head
Aztec or Mexica Hall
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Sun Stone
conquest, based on written
descriptions by Cortés and other
Spaniards. Although Templo
Mayor is shown larger
than it was, the painting
offers a stunning
glimpse of the
lost cities.
This magnificent monolith
depicts the first four Aztec
worlds, thought to
represent locations
where the Aztecs
lived before reloca-
ting to Tenochtitlán
in 1323. The central
figure is either the
sun god or the earth
god, with a sacrificial
knife for a tongue, and
claws holding human
hearts. The four squares
surrounding the center depict
the four previous worlds,
represented by a jaguar, wind,
fiery rain, and water. The next
circle of twenty squares repre-
sents the Aztec month made up
of 20 days. Other symbols depict
the 18 months of a year and five
sacrifice days, representing the
365 days of the Aztec year.
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Coatlicue
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Obsidian
Monkey Vessel
One of the museum's
most valuable and most
viewed objects, this charm-
ing vessel in the form of a
monkey holding its tail in both
hands is carved from a single
piece of highly polished obsidian.
The monkey, in Aztec mythology,
is associated with the god of
wind and black rain clouds.
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Headdress of Quetzal
Sun Stone
Feathers
The headdress on display is a
replica of the original which
Moctezuma II presented to
Cortés. A complete arc of ele-
gant turquoise quetzal feathers
are mounted on an exquisite
headband decorated with red
beads, turquoise, and gold.
^
Coyolxauhqui
Several monumental sculp-
tures of Coatlicue, the mother
goddess, who gave birth to the
sun, moon, and stars survive.
One sculpture reveals her deadly
side, with a head like a snake, a
necklace of human hands and
hearts, and a skirt of serpents.
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Tenochtitlán and
The huge stone head of
Coyolxauhqui, goddess of the
moon, depicts her warrior
goddess persona. Her cheeks
are decorated with rattlesnakes.
According to Aztec myth, she
was beheaded by her brother,
Huitzilopochtli - the sun god -
for impeding his birth.
Tlatelolco
A beautiful painting by Luis
Covarrubias (1919-87) presents
an idealized view of the shim-
mering lake-cities of Tenochtitlán
and Tlatelolco before the
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