Aztec (1375-1520 CE)

Question 1

Templo Mayor

Answer 1

Center of Tenochtitlan
Temple to commemerate gods
Pre-planned
Floating on a lake
Phases (built over each other)
Surrounded by temples for smaller deities or administrative buildings
Seperated into quadrants to represent the four elements
Temple is high up on a lot of stairs to represent the climb to heaven
Symbolizes the mountain of the serpent that the sun god threw his dead sister down
Left temple (for rain god, sun raises above during wet season)
Right temple (for sun god, sun raises above during dry season)
Sun rises between the temples during equinox
Stone depicting the sun god’s chopped up sister (the moon)
Calendar stone (sacrificial altar)

Question 1

Templo Mayor IDs

Answer 1

Tenochtitlan, Mexico
1375-1520 CE
Stone, volcanic stone, jadeite, basalt, stucco

Question 2

Ruler’s feather headdress

Answer 2

Feathers show wealth and dedication to ruler
Makes ruler tall (increasing intimidation)
Visual reminder of the power of the ruler
Possibly belonged to Motecuhzoma II
Quetzal feathers (each bird has 2-3 tail feathers, would have taken thousands of birds) and cotinga feathers

Question 3

Ruler’s feather headdress IDs

Answer 3

Aztec
1428-1520 CE
Feathers and gold