MEXICO CITY, Mexico — The Altar Tzompantli (Building B) at the Templo Mayor site, featuring rows of intricately carved stone skulls. This structure, associated with Aztec sacrificial practices, provides a striking insight into the religious and cosmological beliefs of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture.
Photograph by David Coleman. The Altar Tzompantli at Templo Mayor is a haunting and significant archaeological discovery. This structure, known as Building B, is adorned with 240 stone skulls arranged in rows, each covered with layers of stucco. These skulls decorate the back and sides of the altar, creating a visually striking and symbolically powerful display. The main façade of the altar features a stairway flanked by balustrades, leading to the interior where archaeologists discovered a spectacular offering. This cache included representations of musical instruments and the skeletal remains of animals such as a puma and a wolf, indicating the complex nature of Aztec ritual practices. Located on the north side of the Templo Mayor, the Altar Tzompantli is symbolically associated with Mictlampa, the region of the dead in Aztec cosmology. This placement reflects the Aztec belief system and their conceptualization of the universe. The altar's intricate design and the wealth of artifacts found within provide valuable insights into Aztec religious practices, particularly those related to human sacrifice and death rituals. Its preservation allows modern visitors to connect with the complex and often misunderstood aspects of Aztec culture. This structure stands as a powerful reminder of the central role of ritual and cosmology in Aztec society, offering a tangible link to the belief systems that once governed life in the great city of Tenochtitlan.
Size: 7360px × 4912px
Location: Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico City, Mexico
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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