Templo Mayor Museum Overview

• The Templo Mayor Museum is dedicated to the main temple of the Aztecs in Mexico City.

• The highlight of the museum is a large stone monolith of Coyolxauhqui, a significant figure in Aztec mythology.

Coyolxauhqui Monolith Details

• Location of Discovery:

  • Found at the base of the Huitzilopochtli side of the Templo Mayor.

  • The site is associated with Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec patron deity of warfare and the sun.

• Temple Structure:

  • The Templo Mayor consists of two temples on a single platform:

  • One dedicated to the war god, Huitzilopochtli.

  • The other dedicated to Tlaloc, the rain god.

• Historical Context:

  • As the Aztecs expanded the temple, earlier monoliths depicting Coyolxauhqui were buried and new versions were placed atop the same location, indicating the importance of both the subject and its location.

  • There are seven major building phases at the Templo Mayor, with continuous representations of Coyolxauhqui in the same place throughout these phases.

Iconography of Coyolxauhqui

• The representation of Coyolxauhqui is distinct for several reasons:

  • Dismemberment and decapitation are not commonly depicted in Aztec iconography, especially not in nude forms due to cultural taboos surrounding nudity.

  • The monolith was discovered in 1978 by electrical workers excavating near the main plaza.

  • Identification was possible through key features:

  • Scalloped Shapes:

    • Neck and joints' scalloping symbolizes dismemberment, suggesting torn flesh.

    • Visible femurs can be seen protruding from the legs, indicating disjointing.

  • Facial Features:

    • The name "Coyolxauhqui" translates to "Bells Her Cheeks," with representations of bells depicted on her cheeks.

• Physical Attributes:

  • She wears a feathered headdress and has prominent ear spools.

  • The nudity and state of dismemberment highlight her vulnerability.

Mythological Context

• The myth surrounding Coyolxauhqui involves her mother, Coatlicue ("Snakey Skirt"):

  • According to the myth:

  • Coatlicue, sweeping on Snake Mountain, miraculously becomes impregnated by a ball of feathers.

  • Coyolxauhqui becomes enraged and tries to kill her mother with her 400 brothers.

  • Huitzilopochtli, her brother, defends Coatlicue, resulting in him decapitating Coyolxauhqui and throwing her body down the mountain, causing it to break apart.

• Symbolism of the Temple Location:

  • The base of the temple symbolizes the mountain from which Coyolxauhqui was thrown.

  • Originally, the monolith would have been brightly painted to enhance its visibility:

  • Background likely red, resembling a pool of blood.

  • Her body may have been colored yellow to provide contrast.

Artistic Representation

• Current state visibility:

  • Remnants include a skull believed to be at her back and a snake belt around her waist.

  • Rolls of flesh and hanging breasts suggest maternal qualities, indicating her depiction as an older woman.

Ritual Significance

• The Templo Mayor was an active site for rituals:

  • Historical accounts suggest bodies were rolled down from the temple as part of sacrificial ceremonies.

  • Panquetzalitztli Festival:

  • A monthly festival reenacting the events of the myth involving the killing of Coyolxauhqui occurs.

  • During this festival, captives were sacrificed at the top of the temple and their bodies symbolically rolled down to imitate the mythological narrative.

• Conclusion:

  • The depiction of Coyolxauhqui and the rituals at the Templo Mayor play a crucial role in understanding Aztec mythology, culture, and artistic expression. The themes of sacrifice, divine conflict, and maternal representations are paramount in shaping the Aztec worldview and religious practices.