In November 1519, Hernán Cortés and Bernal Díaz entered the inner chamber of Temple Mayor in Tenochtitlan and described two colossal idols on raised altars: Huitzilopochtli, the patron of war and the sun, armored in gold and feathers with serpent imagery, and Tezcatlipoca, lord of the night and fate, with eyes set with shining obsidian mirrors — the walls blackened by blood. When Cortés called them evil spirits, Montezuma protested these were gods who brought rain, harvests, health, and victory. The shrine was destroyed and its stones used to build colonial Mexico City — the idols survive only in Díaz's later accounts.
Aztec Temple Mayor idols described by Cortés in 1519
MexicoGeneral
Key facts
- In November 1519, Hernán Cortés and Bernal Díaz entered the inner chamber of Temple Mayor in Tenochtitlan
- They described two colossal idols on raised altars
- The first was Huitzilopochtli, patron of war and the sun, armored in gold and feathers with serpents
- The second was Tezcatlipoca, lord of the night and fate, with eyes set with shining black mirrors
- The walls were blackened by blood
- Cortés told Montezuma the idols were evil spirits called devils and requested permission to tear them down
- Montezuma protested that these were gods who brought rain, harvests, health, and victory
- The shrine was later burned and the temple toppled, its stones repurposed for the colonial city
- The idols survive only in Díaz's accounts
Site mentioned
Sources
Inside Templo Mayor, The Aztec Temple Of Tenochtitlanallthatsinteresting.com
Beneath Mexico City lies what the Aztecs believed to be the center of the universe: Templo Mayor. It was obliterated by Spanish invaders in 1521.
The Fall of Tenochtitlan | Originsorigins.osu.edu
After a brutal 75-day siege, the Mexica capital of Tenochtitlan surrendered on August 13, 1521. The war cost tens of thousands of lives, civilian and warrior ...
Massacre in the Great Temple of Tenochtitlanen.wikipedia.org
After the festivities had started, Alvarado turned on the Mexica, killing performers, spectators, and nobles celebrating inside Tenochtitlan's Great Temple.
The Cholula Massacre by Cortesthoughtco.com
In 1519, Cortes led a deadly attack in Cholula, killing thousands and demonstrating Spanish power in Mexico. Cortes believed the city's leaders ...
Spaniards Destroy Idols and Set Fire to the Great Templehistorians.org
We set fire to their Idols and a good part of the chamber with the Idols Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca was burned. On that occasion the ...
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