What was the purpose of the Templo Mayor?
The Templo Mayor or Great Temple (called Hueteocalli by the Aztecs) dominated the central sacred precinct of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Topped by twin temples dedicated to the war god Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc it was a focal point of the Aztec religion and very centre of the Aztec world.
What did the Spaniard conquistadors build over the Templo Mayor?
The Spanish conquistadors destroyed Tenochtitlan (with the Templo Mayor included) and built their own city on top of the ruins of the once great Aztec city.
Who destroyed the Templo Mayor?
the Spanish
Construction of the first temple began sometime after 1325, and it was rebuilt six times. The temple was destroyed by the Spanish in 1521 to make way for the new Mexico City cathedral.
What happened to the Templo Mayor?
After the Spanish Conquest in 1521, the Templo Mayor was destroyed, and what did survive remained buried. The stones were reused to build structures like the Cathedral in the newly founded capital of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (1521-1821).
What led to the discovery of the Templo Mayor?
While digging near the main plaza, they found a finely carved stone monolith that displayed a dismembered and decapitated woman. This monolith led to the discovery of the Templo Mayor, the main Mexica temple located in the sacred precinct of the former Mexica capital, known as Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City).
How did the Aztecs build Templo Mayor?
However, the most important structure was the Templo Mayor. It was a truncated pyramid about 180 feet high that faced west. It was built as though two pyramids were joined together.
What is inside the Templo Mayor?
Archeological investigations continue and visitors can wander through the Templo Mayor Museum. They can see Aztec artifacts: stone statues, obsidian knives, and the skulls of sacrificial victims. And in the end, it may be the Aztecs who get the last laugh.
Was the Templo Mayor destroyed?
When was Templo Mayor destroyed?
1521 CE
In 1521 CE, the Spanish destroyed Templo Mayor to make way for a new cathedral. The ruins were buried and largely forgotten until their rediscovery in the 1970s.
How was the Templo Mayor designed?
The Templo Mayor was a large square compound, enclosed by a perimeter platform with three access gates. The inner area was covered by a stone floor. The complex is believed to have had up to 78 different structures, including temples, places related to human sacrifice rituals, and civic buildings.
Did the Aztecs built Templo Mayor?
The Templo Mayor was a vast complex of religious buildings in the center of Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztec Empire. It was built around the year 1325 CE in a place believed to be where the Aztecs found the mythological eagle on a cactus devouring a snake.