Centro Histórico in Ciudad de México, Mexico — The Valley of Mexico (The Central Highlands)
The Templo Mayor and its Seven Construction Stages
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 24, 2022
1. The Templo Mayor and its Seven Construction Stages Marker
El Huey Teocalli, como se le conocía al Templo Mayor, fue ampliado siete veces. Para demostrar la grandeza y riqueza del señorío, cada determinado tiempo se construía una pirámide, más grande sobre la precedente. Los arqueólogos han relacionado cada etapa con el gobierno de un tlatoani, o supremo gobernante.
Este templo era el más importante de los 78 edificios que habia en el recinto sagrado de Tenochtitlan. En él se celebraban las ceremonias políticas y religiosas más relevantes. Era un edificio sobre una gran plataforma, con dos escalinatas que conducían a los adoratorios de los dioses Tláloc, señor de la lluvia y la fertilidad, y Huitzilopochtli, dios de la guerra.
De la séptima ampliación, que conoció Hernán Cortés, quedan pocos vestigios ya que fue destruida en la época colonial. Se ha calculado que midió 84 metros de norte a sur y 77 de este a oeste, con una altura de 45 metros aproximadamente.
Pie de dibujo: Reconstrucción del Templo Mayor (tomada de López Austin, Alfredo y Leonardo López Luján, Monte sagrado-Templo
this page online
The Templo Mayor and its Seven Construction Stages
The Huey Teocalli, as the Great Temple was known, was enlarged seven times. To show the grandeur and wealth of the kingdom, a larger pyramid was built over the previous stage every so often. Archaeologists have linked each phase to the rule of a tlatoani, or supreme ruler.
The Great Temple was the most important of the seventy-eight buildings in the great plaza of Tenochtitlan. The foremost political and religiousceremonies were held there. It was a building on a huge platform, with two stairways leading to the shrines of the gods Tlaloc, lord of rain and fertility, and Huitzilopochtli, god of war.
Few vestiges remain from the seventh expansion, which Hernán Cortés saw, because it was destroyed in the colonial period. According to estimates, it measured 84 meters from north to south, 77 from east to west, and was about 45 meters tall.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Native Americans.
Location. 19° 26.082′ N, 99° 7.921′ W. Marker is in Ciudad de México. It is in Centro Histórico. Marker can be reached from Seminario, 0 kilometers north of Plaza de la Constitución
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 24, 2022
2. The Templo Mayor and its Seven Construction Stages Marker
This and other nearby markers are in the open air entryway to the Templo Mayor Museum grounds.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. What is the Templo Mayor made of? (here, next to this marker); The City of Tenochtitlan (a few steps from this marker); The Cuauhxicalco, Place of the Eagle Vessel (a few steps from this marker); The Sacred Precinct of Mexico-Tenochtitlan (a few steps from this marker); The Sacred Tree (a few steps from this marker); The Mexica People (a few steps from this marker); Plaza in Front of the Templo Mayor (a few steps from this marker); The Basin of Mexico (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ciudad de México.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 24, 2022
3. The Templo Mayor and its Seven Construction Stages Marker
The marker is in front of a scale model of the Templo Mayor, showing the different construction stages. Near the model is another panel showing the size of the Templo Mayor compared to other buildings in Mexico and in Europe. A secondary panel shows the eleven Tlatoani (Supreme Leaders) of the Mexica before the arrival of the Spanish.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 24, 2022
4. Nearby Tlatoani Panel
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2022, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 10, 2022, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
