Colonia Tlatelolco in Ciudad de México, Mexico — The Valley of Mexico (The Central Highlands)
Templo Mayor: a temple built eight times
El Templo Mayor: un templo ocho veces construido
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 2, 2015
1. Templo Mayor: a temple built eight times Marker
Los mexicas, al igual que otros pueblos mesoamericanos, construían sus templos sobre los antiguos, esto por la creencia de que ahí se encontraba la energía de sus dioses. Como resultado, los restos de los edificios están sobrepuestos uno sobre otro.
Desde el año de 1944 y hasta 1948 la arqueóloga Antonieta Espejo dirigió las exploraciones arqueológicas en busca del Templo Mayor de Tlatelolco y dejó descubiertos los restos de las estructuras que correspondían a las siete etapas constructivas del gran edificio.
Muchos años después, entre 1987 y 1991, se logró terminar el registro topográfico y se corroboró que son siete etapas, de las cuales la sexta y séptima presentan fachadas adosadas, que corresponden a momentos extraordinarios de la historia de los tlatelolcas.
Gracias al arqueólogo Salvador Guilliem y su equipo de colaboradores, en el años de 2011 se descubrió la etapa más temprana de Tlatelolco, y se supo que el Templo Mayor fue construido ocho veces.
Pie de dibujo:
“En cierto modo, la superposición de edificios se parece a las múltiples muñecas rusas llamadas matrushkas, en donde
this page online
Dibujo: Fernando Botas Vera
The Mexicas, as well as other Mesoamerican towns, built their temples on top of the old ones, this was because they believed that the energy of their gods was in that same place. As a result of that, the remains of all those temples are one on top of each other.
From the year 1944 to the 1948 the archeologist Antonieta Espejo lead the explorations in search of the Templo Mayor of Tlatelolco. She left the remains that correspond to the seven constructive stages of the great building uncovered.
Many years later between 1987 and 1991 it was possible to finish the topographic register and it was confirmed that there are seven stages, from which the sixth and seventh stage have connected facades. These stages belong to extraordinary moments in the history of Tlatelolco.
Thanks to Salvador Guilliem and his team of collaborators, in 2011, the first stages of Tlatelolco were discovered, and it was then known that the Templo Mayor was built eight times.
English translation of caption:
“In a way, the superimposing of buildings is like the Russian dolls called matrushkas. One doll has another inside it, only smaller but of the same shape.”
Drawing: Fernando Botas Vera
Topics. This historical
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 2, 2015
2. Templo Mayor: a temple built eight times Marker
In the background can be seen two successive layers of the Templo Mayor.
Location. 19° 27.084′ N, 99° 8.262′ W. Marker is in Ciudad de México. It is in Colonia Tlatelolco. The marker is at the Tlatelolco Archeological Site on Eje Central near the intersection with Avenida Ricardo Flores Magón. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ciudad de México 06900, Mexico. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Great Base: findings upon findings (within shouting distance of this marker); Stage 1 of the Templo Mayor de Mexico Tlatelolco (within shouting distance of this marker); El Temazcal (within shouting distance of this marker); Between the past and the modern times (within shouting distance of this marker); Favor request…and talent for the gods (within shouting distance of this marker); Coyolxauhqui: The dismembered goddess (within shouting distance of this marker); Tlatelolco’s great temple (“Templo Mayor”): A mirrored image of Tenochtitlan (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Tlatelolco (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ciudad de México.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 2, 2015
3. Templo Mayor: a temple built eight times Marker
A different view of the marker, ruins of the Templo Mayor and Santiago Apostol Catholic Church in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 753 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 4, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
