The results of research carried out at the main temple of Mexica culture are revealed for the first time in Europe, marking an exceptional exhibition in the history of Mesoamerican archaeology.
Date: From April 3, 2024 until September 8, 2024
Location: Quai Branly Museum
Desires: Mexican civilization, art and anthropology
On February 21, 1978, the basements of the vibrant city of Mexico revealed one of the most extraordinary secrets of Mesoamerica: the remains of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Mexican civilization, long wrongly called Aztec, and its sacred enclosure, the Templo Mayor. The chance discovery by diggers from the Electricity Company of an enormous circular monolith representing the moon goddess Coyolxauhqui marks the beginning of half a century of archaeological excavations of unprecedented scale. Although the history of the Mexica Empire (1325-1521) is widely known and documented, its culture remained little known in the areas of rituals, art and architecture.
The exhibition, produced in collaboration with the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH), reveals these discoveries. Among the most remarkable, we find 204 offerings that the Mexica people placed before their most revered deities to honor them, attract their favors, and sometimes, request certain favors in return. These varied gifts reflect the extraordinary political and economic power that this empire had acquired upon the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1519. Their analysis reveals not only a dynamic and predatory society, but also artistic excellence and complex symbolic and religious thought.
Date: From April 3, 2024 until September 8, 2024
Location: Quai Branly Museum
Desires: Mexican civilization, art and anthropology
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