Casa Denegrida de Moctezuma facts for kids
| Alternative name | Black House of Moctezuma |
|---|---|
| Location | Mexico City |
| History | |
| Material | stone, basalt |
| Cultures | Aztec |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 2008 |
| Archaeologists | Elsa Hernández Pons |
The Casa Denegrida de Moctezuma (which means The Black House of Moctezuma) was a special part of the royal palace of Tenochtitlan. It belonged to Moctezuma II, who was the ninth tlatoani (ruler or emperor) of the Aztecs. This "Black House," or more accurately, the "black room," was a room without windows. It was painted completely black. Moctezuma used this room to meditate and think deeply. The floor was made of large, dark, uneven basalt stones.
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Discovering the Black House
In 2008, archaeologists found parts of a wall and a basalt floor. This discovery happened at 13 Moneda Street in Mexico City. The team was led by archaeologist Elsa Hernández Pons.
What Archaeologists Believe
The archaeologists believed these findings were the remains of the Casa Denegrida. Spanish explorers had written about this special room. They described it as a place where Moctezuma II would meditate. He also used it for important spiritual practices.
It is thought that in the Black House, Moctezuma II had visions. He may have believed the arrival of the Spanish was the return of the god Quetzalcoatl.
History of the Site
The area where the Casa Denegrida once stood has a long history.
Building on Ancient Foundations
As early as 1535, a new building was constructed over the remains of the Casa Denegrida. This building was the Mexican Mint (Casa de Moneda de América Latina). It was a place where coins were made for the region.
From Mint to Museum
Coin-making operations at the mint stopped in 1850. After that, the building was transformed. It became the Museo Nacional de las Culturas, which is a museum about different cultures.
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