The Templo Mayor (Great Temple) has resided in the central area of what was once the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan and is today Mexico City in Mexico for hundreds of years. It was the focal point of the Aztec religion, and also represents the impact on the culture and region when the Spanish destroyed the city in 1521. Despite centuries of being forgotten, the Templo Mayor has today been excavated and restored in an incredible impressive manner. The site showcases how monuments can be saved and restored to celebrate the culture of a nation while also creating a tremendously positive direct and indirect economic impact.
7 Layers of History
The Templo Mayor was first constructed sometimes after 1325 and quickly became the most important structure at the center of a large sacred precinct. The god of war and the god of rain each had a shrine at the top of the pyramid with separate staircases. Both flights featured sculptures of snake heads.
The structure was improved and built upon by leaders over the next few centuries, each of whom looked to build a more impressive monument than their predecessors. Seven distinct versions of the Temple were built between 1325 and 1519. Every so often, a larger pyramid was built over the previous stage, but each of these stages has a notable element of history associated with it. The fourth temple is considered to have the richest of the architectural decorations, while three shrines and the House of the Eagle Warriors were constructed for the sixth temple.
The seventh temple was the last version of the Templo Mayor, and very little of it remains since this layer was destroyed by the Spanish in 1521. Most of what is known about this temple is based on the historical record. The Spanish ended up building a Mediterranean-style city over the site, and the entire complex disappeared beneath the buildings of downtown Mexico City.
Over the centuries, the exact location of the temple was forgotten, but efforts were made in the early part of the century to find it. Various archeological findings did not spur a full-scale excavation, but in 1978, workers for the electric company in the center of the city struck a pre-Hispanic monolith. After several notable discoveries, the Templo Mayor Project was finally enabled, which was authorized by presidential decree.
The results of that initiative have been the meticulous excavation and preservation of the Templo Mayor along with the creation of the Templo Mayor Museum. These efforts and sites have created incredible experiences that attract visitors from all over the world.
Experiencing the Distinct Culture and History of Tenochtitlan
The Museo del Templo Mayor is divided between the archeological zone and museum. They preserve the remains of the Templo Mayor in distinct and essential ways.
The archeological zone allows visitors to walk through the various stages of the actual Templo Mayor site to get an incredible sense of what it looked like over the centuries. Elevated walkways protect the site, and a variety of signs explain the cultural and historical importance of what viewers are seeing. Signs do everything from explain the significance of the serpents and frogs to document what happened in the House of the Eagles to showcase the Red Temple.
The museum of the Templo Mayor was built in 1987 to house the Templo Mayor Project along with the artifacts that were discovered throughout the area. One of the most famous pieces in the museum is the disk depicting a dismembered Coyolxauhqui that was found during construction in 1978. However, there are countless artifacts on display throughout the museum that have an equal amount of historical and cultural significance.
The museum has eight main exhibition halls, called “salas”, each dedicated to a different theme. These rooms are dedicated to everything from specific gods/goddesses to concepts of ritual and sacrifice in Tenochtitlan to the archeology and history of the Templo Mayor site.
Walking through the archeological zone and museum allows viewers to understand and appreciate the distinct cultural significance of the site, and that significance has had a profound impact on the contemporary culture and economy of Mexico City.
Nearly a Million Visitors
The Templo Mayor has become an important element in contemporary Mexico City in multiple ways. Signs across the city point residents and tourists in the direction of the site, which also serves as a focal point for various maps and on tours. The site received 801,942 visitors in 2017 alone.
In terms of direct revenue, numerous products are available for purchase just outside the museum, while the tickets to enter the site provide another important means of revenue. The museum has also hosted a variety of events, and the crowds it attracts have helped provide another avenue of economic activity that the surrounding shops, stores and merchants have been able to develop.
While paid tickets are required to experience everything the Templo Mayor has to offer, it’s very easy for residents to see into and across the site. Additionally, on Sundays, admission is free for Mexican citizens and foreign residents. This kind of access has allowed residents to appreciate the monument in a profound way, which has further increased the significance of the site.
Mexico City was built on top of and around the ruins of the Templo Mayor, and the significance of the site continues to influence the culture and economy of the city. This significance has created a legacy which showcases what it can mean to create a monument that restores the past.
A Legacy of History and Culture
As one of Mexico’s most important archaeological sites as well as a part of the Historic Center of Mexico City, the Templo Mayor has become high on the list of places to explore and experience in the city. In doing so, it has created a legacy that highlights what kind of monuments can be created when the history and culture of an area are properly honored and celebrated.
