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Templo Mayor facts for kids

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Rekonstruktion Tempelbezirk von Tenochtitlan 2 Templo Mayor
Scale model of the twin Great Temple of Tenochtitlan

The Templo Mayor (Great Temple) was one of the main temples of the Aztecs. It was in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. Its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica. The temple was called the huei teocalli in the Nahuatl language. It was dedicated to two gods, Huitzilopochtli, god of war, and Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture. Each one had a shrine at the top of the pyramid with separate stairways. The spire in the center of the image to the right was devoted to Quetzalcoatl in his form as the wind god, Ehecatl.

The Great Temple devoted to Huiztilopochtli and Tlaloc was approximately 100 by 80 m (328 by 262 ft) at its base. Construction of the first temple began sometime after 1325. It was rebuilt six times after that. The temple was destroyed by the Spanish in 1521. The modern-day archeological site lies just to the northeast of the Zocalo, or main plaza of Mexico City The site is part of the Historic Center of Mexico City, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

Images for kids

  • Templo Mayor 2015 001

    View of the Templo Mayor and the surrounding buildings.

  • Coyolxauhqui 4095977415 b89d64f008-2

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

  • ScaleModelTemploMayor

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

  • Zocalo temple mayor metro

    Model of Templo Mayor. Mexico City Metro Zócalo station.

  • Altar der Kröten

    Altar of the toads as symbols of water

  • TenochtitlanModel

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

  • EagleBuildingTemploMayor

    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.

  • InsideEagleBuildingTemploMayor

    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.

  • OfferingBoxTemploMayor

    Stone offering box and contents found at the Templo Mayor.

  • StoneMasksTemploMayor

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

  • Medal Nobel Peace Prize

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

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