Some Basics

After the conquest of the Aztecs in 1521, Mexico City became the heart of New Spain. It is thought that Aztecs, joined the Mexicas, eventually settling in the Valley of Mexico, now Mexico City, by the early 14th century.  At that time a large lake, Texcoco, provided food and water. They were experienced agriculturalists who constructed and planted raised fields using reclaimed land by scooping sediment from the bottom of Lake Texcoco to use as mulch. 

Artists view of the lake

The Aztecs built a temple to Huitzilopochtli, their god of war, on the island of Tenochtitlán. They began expanding their island-city into the surrounding marshes. Their economy and social life depended on water. They constructed aqueducts to supply fresh water and canals to allow canoes to travel throughout the city, and to control flooding they built a series of flood-control levees. The nearby twin city of Tlatelolco, named after their god of water and agriculture, emerged along the north shore of the lake. These people ruled the area around Mexico City for almost 200 years. 

Tlaloc statue in the Museum of Anthropology

Upon arriving at the island of Tenochtitlán, Aztec priests reportedly found an eagle on a rock devouring a snake. This became such an important symbol to Mexican culture that it is portrayed on the national flag of Mexico.

Stained glass from the Palace of Chapultepec

The Aztecs believed that the sun god needed daily nourishment, human blood and beating hearts,  and that as “people of the sun,” they were required to provide Huitzilopochtli with his sustenance. Four years after their gruesome death, victims - usually prisoners of war, slaves and sometimes women who died in childbirth -  went to live forever in the bodies of hummingbirds.

Huitzilopochtli often depicted as a god of war

Huitzilopochtli’s high priest, the Quetzalcóatl is usually shown as a hummingbird,  or a warrior with armour and helmet made of hummingbird feathers.

The Presidential Palace

Located along the east side of the Zocalo is the national palace, built in 1522, It was the second private residence of Hernán Cortés. Later it became the official home for the Spanish viceroys, and is now the residence of Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also known by his initials AMLO.  Inside are murals painted by Diego Rivera, depicting the history of Mexico from 1521 to 1930 which he created between 1929 and 1935 Unfortunately, we were not allowed to go in there because the president was in residence.