Templo Mayor facts for kids

Scale model of the twin Great Temple of Tenochtitlan

The Templo Mayor (which means Great Temple in Spanish) was one of the most important temples of the Aztecs. It stood in their capital city, Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. This amazing building was built in the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica. The Aztecs called it huei teocalli in their Nahuatl language.

The temple was special because it was dedicated to two main gods. One was Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. The other was Tlaloc, the god of rain and farming. Each god had their own shrine at the very top of the pyramid, and they even had separate stairways leading up to them! There was also a tall spire in the middle, which was for Quetzalcoatl, who was known as the wind god, Ehecatl.

The base of the Great Temple was huge, about 100 meters (328 feet) long and 80 meters (262 feet) wide. Building started sometime after the year 1325. Over time, the temple was rebuilt and made bigger six different times! Sadly, the Spanish destroyed the temple in 1521. Today, you can visit the ancient ruins just northeast of the Zocalo, which is the main plaza in Mexico City. This site is part of the Historic Center of Mexico City, and it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

What Was the Templo Mayor?

The Templo Mayor was not just a building; it was the heart of the Aztec world. It was a massive pyramid with two temples on top. One temple was painted blue and white for Tlaloc, the rain god. The other was red for Huitzilopochtli, the war god. This showed how important both rain for crops and success in battle were to the Aztecs.

Who Were the Gods Honored Here?

The Aztecs believed that their gods needed to be honored to keep the world balanced.

• Huitzilopochtli: He was the god of the sun and war. The Aztecs believed he guided them and helped them win battles. His temple was on the south side.
• Tlaloc: He was the god of rain, water, and fertility. He was important for good harvests and preventing droughts. His temple was on the north side.

How Was the Temple Built?

The Templo Mayor was built in layers, one on top of the other. Each time the Aztec empire grew stronger, they would build a new, larger temple over the old one. This meant the temple kept getting bigger and more impressive. Archeologists have found seven main stages of construction.

Discovering the Ruins Today

For a long time, the Templo Mayor was hidden beneath the modern city. People knew it was there, but its exact location was lost.

How Was It Found?

In 1978, workers were digging to install electrical cables in Mexico City. They accidentally found a huge stone disk. This disk showed the dismembered body of Coyolxauhqui, the moon goddess. This amazing discovery led to a big archeological project.

What Can You See at the Site?

Today, you can walk through the ruins of the Templo Mayor. You can see parts of the different layers of the pyramid. Archeologists have found thousands of offerings, like statues, pottery, and jewels, buried within the temple. These offerings tell us a lot about Aztec beliefs and daily life. There is also a museum nearby where you can see many of these incredible artifacts.

Images for kids

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  View of the Templo Mayor and the surrounding buildings.

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  Disk depicting a dismembered Coyolxauhqui which was found during construction in 1978

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  Scale model of the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan showing the various stages as it was enlarged over time.

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  Model of Templo Mayor. Mexico City Metro Zócalo station.

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  Altar of the toads as symbols of water

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  Situation of the Templo Mayor (upper centre) in the central district of Tenochtitlan

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  View of ruins of the "Eagle" building of the Templo Mayor complex. The roof is there to protect the remains of paintings that are inside.

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  Inside the protected area of the Eagle Building of the Templo Mayor complex in Mexico City. Remnants of the original paint can still be seen.

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  Stone offering box and contents found at the Templo Mayor.

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  Wall display of stone masks found at the Templo Mayor site on display at the Templo Mayor museum.

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  The Nobel Peace Prize Medal awarded to Rigoberta Menchú is safeguarded in the Museo del Templo Mayor in Mexico City.

See also

In Spanish: Templo Mayor para niños