The Toltecs and the Aztecs

The Toltecs

c. 9th-12th c.

Tula

Quetzalcoatl, 14th-16th c.

Quetzalcoatl, 16th c.

Quetzalcoatl, c. 1519

Quetzalcoatl Devouring a Man, 16th c.

Quetzalcoatl Palace

Quemado Palace

Serpent Wall

Pyramid B

Pyramid C

Pyramid Reliefs

Quetzalcoatl

Coyote, Jaguar, and Eagles Devouring Human Hearts

Eagle Devouring a Human Heart

Human Skull

Chacmol

Toltec Warriors

Toltec Vessel

The Aztecs

c. 1350-1521

Tenochtitlan

The City’s Foundation Myth

Map of Tenochtitlan Sent Back to the King of Spain by Hernán Cortés in 1524

The Ruins of Tenochtitlan in Mexico City

Visions of the Ancient City

The Great City of Tenochtitlan (Detail) Diego Rivera, 1945

The Temple at TenochtitlanDiego Rivera, 1945

Drawing of Main Temple of Texcoco, 16th c.

Aztec Stone Sculpture and Reliefs

Great Temple Dedication Stone, 1487

Earth Monster Relief, 15th-early 16th c.

Maize Deity Chicomecoatl, 15th-early 16th c.

Coatlicue, the Mother Goddess

Coyolxuahqui, Evil Sister of Quetzalcoatl

Water Deity Chalchichuitlicue, 15th-early 16th c.

Water Deity Chalchichuitlicue, 15th-early 16th c.

Cihuateotl, 15th-early 16th c.

Woman, 15th-early 16th c.

Man, 15th-early 16th c.

Man with Cacao Bean, 15th-early 16th c.

Standard Bearer, 15th-early 16th c.

Deity as Standard Bearer, 15th-early 16th c.

Coiled Serpent, 15th-early 16th c.

Calendar Stone

Other Aztec Works of Art

Eagle Warrior, 15th-early 16th c.

Tlaloc Vessel from the Great Temple, c. 1470

Vulture Vessel, 15th-early 16th c.

Vessel with Date Glyph, 1431

Double-Headed Serpent, late 15th-early 16th c.

Gold Frog Ornaments

Aztec Religion and Culture

Sacrifice and Bloodletting for Mictlantcuhtli, God of the Underworld

Heart Sacrifice to the Sun God

Pre-Sacrifice Combat Ritual

Skull Rack

Warriors

Calendar

Glyphs

The End of the Aztec Empire

1521

Hernán Cortés

Moctezuma II