Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Templo Mayor
In Aztec times the Templo Mayor stood in a sacred
walled compound in the center of Tenochtitlán
(present day Mexico City) before Cortés destroyed
it. In 1978 a massive round carved stone was
uncovered accidentally near Zócalo that led to a
major archeological project, uncovering the ruins
of the magnificent double pyramid complex.
£
Monolith of
Top 10 Features
1 Museo del Templo Mayor
2 Lacustrine Fountain
3 Monolith of Coyolxauhqui
4 Wall of Skulls
5 Chacmool Carving
6 Eagle Knights
7 Templo Mayor Construction
Stages
8 Temple of Tláloc
9 Serpent Head Sculptures
0 Tenochtitlán Ceremonial
Center
Coyolxauhqui
This magnificent circular
carved stone
(above)
depicts the dismembered
Coyolxauhqui, goddess of
the moon.
Model of the temple and
its construction stages
Early morning (or a
cloudy day) is the
best time to visit the
ruins, before the sun's
glare makes it difficult
to see the details of
sculptures, murals,
and construction.
!
Museo del Templo
Mayor
This museum designed by
Mexican architect Pedro
Ramírez Vázquez displays
many of the artifacts dis-
covered during the excava-
tion of the temple ruins,
including the original mono-
lith of Coyolxauhqui.
Bypass the street
food surrounding
Templo Mayor and
head to one of the
hotels along the
south side of Zócalo,
or head farther south
along Francisco I.
Madero to #29 and
stop in at Los
Bisquets Obregón.
$
Wall of
Skulls
During the Aztec
times skulls of
sacrificed
prisoners were
mounted on wooden
stakes forming a wall
of skulls
(below)
, or a
Tzompantli
. The Wall of
Skulls found in the
museum is a replica of the
original. In the ruins, there
is also a wall of stucco-
covered human skulls that
forms a side wall of the
Tzompantli Altar.
t
Map Q2
t
Seminario 8, on the
east side of the Catedral
Metropolitana
t
5542-0256
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Metro Zócalo
t
9am-5pm Tue-Sun
t
45 pesos, free Sun for
Mexican citizens and
residents
t
Additional charges for
video camera; audio
guides available in
Spanish and English
t
www.templomayor.
inah.gob.mx
@
Lacustrine Fountain
An excellent fountain-
cum-map
(above)
is located
in the plaza. The base of the
fountain forms a bas-relief
map of ancient Tenochtitlán
surrounded by the lake,
canals, irrigation ditches,
and small islands. This pro-
vides a contextual overview
of the city that surrounded
Templo Mayor before the
Spanish conquest.
16
The 20 minute video in the museum, near the entrance, is
excellent
