It's time to turn the page on the calendar. This year, the calendar which I have custom-made, using photos that I have taken, features Mexican archaeological sites. The photo for March is of a small site just to the north of Mexico City, Santa Cecilia Acatitlán.
Acatitlán was a town on the shore of Lake Texcoco which came under the rule of the Aztecs. After the Spanish conquest, the town was largely dismantled, and the stones from its ceremonial center were used to build the nearby parish church of Santa Cecilia. In 1962, a Mexican architect and archaeologist reconstructed the small pyramid. The steep steps lead up to a temple with a sacrificial stone in front of it.
The Spanish thoroughly destroyed most of the Aztec cities. So, even though this is a reconstruction, this temple gives us a rare glimpse of Aztec architecture.
I visited this Aztec site on my last visit to CDMX. I didn't know the pyramid was a reconstruction, although it's in such good shape that it makes sense in hindsight.
ReplyDeleteThose steps are STEEP!
-Scott
Yes, even though the pyramid is not that tall, the steps are very steep and a bit scary.
DeleteThe first time I visited, I was with one of my teaching colleagues. We each posed lying on the stone in a position for the sacrifice. I wish I still had those pictures. On a more recent visit, if I recall correctly, there is a sign on the stone saying that you are not allowed to recline on it.