Museo del Templo Mayor

Recorrido: The tour offers visitors the closest view of the site’s most splendid period. 1. Antecedentes arqueológicos: It shows archaeological investigations at the sacred precinct of Mexico-Tenochtitlan from 1790 when Coatlicue and the Sun Stone were found to the latest findings of the Temple Mayor Project and the Urban Archaeology Program. 2. Ritual y sacrificio: Objects related to funerary rites, religious ceremonies, and human sacrifice are displayed. For the Mesoamerican peoples, especially the Mexica, daily life was steeped in religious belief; even war was viewed as a ritual to expand militarily and to collect tributes, while capturing enemies destined to die in sacrifice to feed the Sun and ensure the cosmos endures. 3. Tributo y comercio: Objects from tribute and trade among the Mexica with other peoples are shown; a map illustrates the sites and routes of the Mexica merchants, and the tribute zones under their domain from independence from Azcapotzalco to the empire's fall. 4. Huitzilopochtli: Room dedicated to the war god, the southern hummingbird, patron of the Mexica; although very important, no sculptures or other representations of this deity have been found; historical sources indicate the image was made with amaranth seeds that do not survive well through centuries. Nevertheless, the codices contain images showing main attributes: a helmet in the shape of a hummingbird; in one hand a turquoise serpent and in the other a shield with five feather adornments, plus a ritual paper banner, Xiuhcóatl or precious serpent, and other magical weaponry. Objects associated with his cult are also displayed. 5. Tláloc: Room dedicated to the rain god, fertilizer of the earth, and resident of the highest mountains where clouds form. Tláloc was one of the oldest and most important gods in Mesoamerica; his benevolence ensured the earth bore fruit, and his wrath when hail or floods threatened crops. He was placed beside Huitzilopochtli in the Temple Mayor of Tenochtitlan. 6. Flora y fauna: Remains of animals and plants reveal how the Mexica perceived their environment and its religious significance; many pre-Hispanic gods possess animal traits reflecting careful ecosystem observation. 7. Agricultura: Objects illustrate the importance of agriculture among the Mexica; many gods presided over this activity and rituals corresponded to rainy and dry periods determined by Tláloc. 8. Arqueología histórica: The displayed objects cover the Spanish conquest through the 20th century, recovered during the Temple Mayor Project excavations and the Urban Archaeology Program.