The mostly white mock temple will be on show in Mexico City's bustling main square, the Zocalo, close to the ruins of the real Templo Mayor, where the Aztecs venerated two main deities with elaborate pageantry and sacrificial offerings. The temple was destroyed by Spanish forces after their conquest and subsequent razing of Tenochtitlan, which became Mexico City.
A colonial-era Roman Catholic cathedral was built next to where the temple once stood, using many stones from the toppled shrine. At 16 meters 52 feet high, it will be the biggest ever replica of the Templo Mayor, according to Mexico's culture ministry.
Every time the temple was rebuilt, it grew larger although its basic form didn't change. There was also a lower circular temple facing the main structure devoted to the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl actually predated the Aztecs. If in Mexico City one can stay in a very unique and artistic Quetzalcoatl-inspired building called Quetzalcoatl's Nest.
It has been built in the shape of a serpent and partly in the caves of the mountain. Amazingly, the temple's exact location was forgotten although scholars had a good idea of where to look for it. To excavate it, 13 buildings in the area were demolished. And during the excavations over 7, objects were discovered, this included Mixtec figurines, ceramic urns from Veracruz, copper rattles, decorated skulls, effigies, clay pots with the image of Tlaloc, and more.
These are now in the Templo Mayor Museum. The Templo Mayor Museum was inaugurated in to exhibit the archeological findings of the Temple found during excavation. The collection provides a glimpse of the past and the military, political, and aesthetic aspects of the city before the Spanish arrived. One can have confused and mixed opinions of the temple. At once it symbolized an ancient civilization destroyed by colonialism and greed.
On the other hand, it symbolized human sacrifice and human terror on subjugated peoples while also being a testament to Aztec engineering and civilization.
Aaron is a first-hand traveler who has visited more than 70 countries around the world. Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love. Things to Do.
Lauren Cocking. Park, Ruins, Archaeological site. Copy link. Map View. Our final mention on the guide to Aztec ruins is also the only one located outside of greater Mexico City.
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