Newly discovered Aztec Carvings tell of Epic Cosmic Battle

[Ichingcarpenter]

FEBRUARY 19, 2012 | NEWS
A total of 23 pre-Columbian stone plaques dating back over 550 years were discovered by archaeologists in front of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan in Mexico City, with carvings illustrating Aztec myths including the birth of the god of war Huitzilopochtli.

The sculpted images are carved on slabs of tezontle (a volcanic rock) and feature depictions of serpents, captives and warriors. They also feature other figures relating to the mythological origins of Aztec civilization.


The stone carvings focus on the myths of Huitzilopochtli’s birth and the beginning of the Holy War. Raul Barrera from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said they had been “placed facing what was the centre of Huitzilopochtli worship and can be dated back to the fourth stage of the Great Temple’s construction (1440-1469)”.

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The cosmic battle

According to the myth of the God of War’s birth, the Goddess of the Earth and Fertility, Coatlicue, was magically impregnated by a ball of feathers that fell on her while she was sweeping a temple, and subsequently gave birth to the gods Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl as well as Huitzilopochtli. This pregnancy angered her other children who saw it shameful that their father was a ball of feathers, so 400 warriors from southern Mexico and the Goddess Coyolxauhqui decided to ascend Coatepec mountain where Coatlicue lived and kill her, however Huitzilopochtli springs fully armed from his mothers womb when he hears of the plot.

The legend about the beginning of this cosmic Holy War among the Mexicas says that during the journey the southern warriors made from Aztlan to Texcoco Lake (where they founded the city), star warriors from the north, called Mimixcoas descended from the heavens

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Video and Pictures at the link

http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/02/2012/aztec-carvings-tell-story-of-cosmic-battle

[Scuba]

1. "impregnated by a ball of feathers that fell on her while she was sweeping"...

That would have been useful, back in 1969.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Amazing projection of what may have been the appearance of the original city of Tenochitlan. Wow.

[center][/center]
I had to save that link immediately for future reference.

The architecture is mind-boggling. Fascinating. Can't take it all in at once.

Thank you, so much.

[a la izquierda]

3. All of the colonial district of Mexico City...

is like a weird dual earth. You know when you're standing on the street that, in certain spots, 500 years ago there were canals and vibrant city streets under your feet. It's a very odd sensation.
I imagine there are other places on earth like that, but Mexico City's the only place I've been to. Also weird is that the whole colonial district is uneven because of the fact that Tenochtitlan was built on a lake, and Mexico City atop it. The city is essentially sinking, even though it's been drained.
The best juxtaposition is standing in front of the Catedral Metropolitana to the left and the ruins of the Templo Mayor to the right. Absolutely eerie.