Date:

Archaeologists discover remains of ancient Aztec temple & ball court

Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a large circular temple, dedicated to the Aztec wind god Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatlin.

The remains were uncovered behind the city’s colonial-era Roman Catholic Cathedral in the heart of Mexico City.

- Advertisement -

The temple was built between 1486-1502 during the reign of the Aztec Emper Ahuizotl, predecessor of the famed Moctezuma II, whom Hernan Cortes defeated during the conquest of Mexico by Spanish conquistadors.

Aztec archaeologist Eduardo Matos said “the top of the temple was likely built to resemble a coiled snake, with priests entering though a doorway made to look like a serpent’s nose.”

The deity Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatlin often appears as a feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl in Aztec and other Nahua cultures) and as a god of wind, and is therefore also known as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. Ehecatl also figures prominently as one of the creator gods and culture heroes in the mythical creation accounts documented for pre-Columbian central Mexican cultures.

Only part of the ball court has survived, comprising of a staircase and section of a spectator stand. Estimates place the court at around 50 meters (165 feet) long.

- Advertisement -

Ball games have been an important part of ritual association in Mesoamerica since 1400BC. The Aztec game, called ōllamaliztli was witnessed by Spaniards in the sixteenth-century who said that points were lost by a player who let the ball bounce more than twice before returning it to the other team, who let the ball go outside the boundaries of the court, or who tried and failed to pass the ball through one of the stone rings placed on each wall along the center line.

According to the 16th century Aztec chronicler Motolinia, points were gained if the ball hit the opposite end wall, while the decisive victory was reserved for the team that put the ball through a ring. However, placing the ball through the ring was a rare event—the rings at Chichen Itza, for example, were set 6 meters off the playing field—and most games were likely won on points.

Archaeologists also discovered some 32 severed male neck vertebrae om a pile adjacent to the ball court.

“It was an offering associated with the ball game, just off the stairway,” said archaeologist Raul Barrera. “The vertebrae, or necks, surely came from victims who were sacrificed or decapitated.”

Material Source – INAH

- Advertisement -

Stay Updated: Follow us on iOS, Android, Google News, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and our newsletter

spot_img
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is a multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
spot_img
spot_img

Mobile Application

spot_img

Related Articles

Neo-Assyrian winged bull could be largest ever found

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of what could be the largest known Neo-Assyrian lamassu – a protective deity depicting a winged bull with a human head.

Mollusc shells are unlocking the secrets of Ancient Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis

Mollusc shells unearthed during excavations at the Saqqara necropolis are offering new insights into the customs and daily life of the region’s ancient inhabitants.

5,000-year-old Dolmen complex discovered in Teba

Archaeologists from the University of Cádiz have discovered a monumental dolmen complex dating back more than 5,000-years-ago in the Spanish town of Teba in Malaga.

Archaeologists search for missing WWII Pilot at P-47 crash site in Essex

A six-week recovery project is underway in North Essex to investigate the crash site of a US Army Air Forces P-47 Thunderbolt that went down during World War II.

Megalith “dragon stones” were likely part of an ancient water cult

A new study, published in the journal npj suggests that the mysterious dragon stones found across the highlands of Armenia may relate to water veneration practices of communities over six millennia ago.

Archaeologists investigate sacred Piedra Letra monument

Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have conducted a study of Piedra Letra, located on a hill overlooking Huehuetónoc in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

Monument linked to Iberian star mythology discovered in Jódar

Archaeologists from the Research Institute for Iberian Archaeology (IAI) at the University of Jaén (UJA) have discovered a monument connected to the sun and other celestial bodies within Iberian mythology.

Project is restoring Costa Rica’s mysterious stone spheres

A joint team of specialists from Costa Rica and Mexico are restoring three stone spheres at the Finca 6 Museum Site in Palmar de Osa.