18
Examining the Symbolic Constructs of Cholula’s Great Pyramid
Gabriela Uruñuela y Ladrón de Guevara and Patricia Plunket Nagoda,QGHSHQGHQWUHVHDUFKHUVUHWLUHGIURPWKH8QLYHUVLGDGGHODV$PpULFDV3XHEODJDEULHODXUXQXHOD#XGODSP[SDWULFLDSOXQNHW#XGODSP[,Q2FWREHURIDV+HUQiQ&RUWpV¶WURRSVWUDYHOHGIURP7OD[FDODWR7HQRFKWLWODQDJLJDQWLFHGL¿FH
heralded the proximity of Cholula. Abandoned for nine centuries, it appeared as a hill, but its name betrayed
its human construction: Tlachihualtépetl (“man-made hill”), today known as the Great Pyramid. From
its summit one could appreciate the urban grid harboring administrative buildings, schools, workshops,
WKHPDUNHWVRPHKRXVHVDQGQHDUO\WHPSOHV2IWKHVHWKDWRI4XHW]DOFyDWO²WKHORFDOWLWXODU
deity for over four centuries—attracted thousands of pilgrims, including foreign caciques who came to
UHFHLYHWKHIDFLDOSLHUFLQJVIRUWKHRUQDPHQWVRIWKHLUQHZR৽FH
:HGRQRWNQRZWKHDQWLTXLW\RI&KROXOD¶VDXWKRULW\WRYDOLGDWHIRUHLJQLQYHVWLWXUHVEXWWKHVHTXHQFHRI
WKH*UHDW3\UDPLGWKHODUJHVWSUH&ROXPELDQPRXQGE\YROXPHLQWKH$PHULFDV PRQDVLGHDQGPhigh), reveals that at least its sacred quality does have a long history that transcended political, ideological,
and ethnic changes, and expresses the unique character that made Cholula comparable—according to
the sixteenth-century Spaniards—to Rome and Mecca. The roots of that sacredness appear to date back
WRWKH¿UVWFHQWXU\ZKHQDIWHUDFRORVVDOHUXSWLRQRI3RSRFDWpSHWOYROFDQRWKH¿UVWPRQXPHQWDOVWDJHRI
WKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWOZDVUDLVHGEXWDOWKRXJKWKHPRWLYHVEHKLQGWKLVFRQVWUXFWLRQZRXOGFRQIHU&KROXOD
with a special renown, they do not explain how this fame would increase over time.
7KHDQDO\VLVRIWKHS\UDPLG¶VGHYHORSPHQWFDQKHOSZLWKWKDWHQLJPD%HWZHHQDQG,JQDFLR
0DUTXLQDH[FDYDWHGDOPRVWNPRIWXQQHOVLQLWGHWHUPLQLQJWKDWLWKDGYDULRXVVXEVWUXFWXUHVDQG
RXWOLQLQJWKHLUVKDSHVDQGFKURQRORJ\2XUPDSSLQJKDVUH¿QHGWKDWLQIRUPDWLRQUHFRUGLQJWKDWWKHUHDUH
DPLQLPXPRIHLJKWPDMRUVWDJHVIURPWKH¿UVWWRVHYHQWKFHQWXULHVDQGPDNLQJYLDEOHWKHLUPRUSKRORJLFDO
characterization.
On other occasions we have addressed how the new data contribute to understand how Cholula
JHQHUDWHGLWVVDFUHGDXUDSHUVSHFWLYHVWKDWKHUHZHVXPPDUL]HHPSKDVL]LQJWKH*UHDW3\UDPLG¶VV\PEROLF
FRQVWUXFWVLWVXQLI\LQJRULJLQLQWKHSRVWHUXSWLRQUHFRQ¿JXUDWLRQLWVGHYHORSPHQWDQGWKHLQFOXVLYH
VWUDWHJ\H[SUHVVHGE\LWVDUFKLWHFWXUHDQGLWVDWWHQWLRQWRWKHKXPDQDQGWKHGLYLQH:HWKHQRXWOLQHKRZWKH
incessant construction over six hundred years at the Tlachihualtépetl indicates that the religious magnetismUHSRUWHGLQ&RORQLDOWLPHVPXVWKDYHLGHQWL¿HG&KROXODVLQFHWKH¿UVWFHQWXU\DQGKRZWKHGHVLJQRIWKH
pyramidal complex and its references to the underworld and to Popocatépetl suggest its dedication to thevolcano and its “self-designation” as the center of the cosmos.

217

(QRFWXEUHGHKDELHQGRODVKXHVWHVGH+HUQiQ&RUWpVGHMDGR7OD[FDODUXPERD7HQRFKWLWODQXQDJLJDQWHVFDHGL¿FDFLyQOHVDQXQFLDUtDODSUR[LPLGDGGH&KROXOD$EDQGRQDGDSRUQXHYHVLJORV
parecía una loma, pero su nombre traicionaba su confección humana: Tlachihualtépetl (“cerro hecho
a mano”), hoy llamado Gran Pirámide. Desde su cima podía apreciarse la retícula urbana albergando
HGL¿FLRVDGPLQLVWUDWLYRVHVFXHODVWDOOHUHVHOPHUFDGRXQDVFDVDV\FDVLWHPSORV'H
estos, el de Quetzalcóatl —deidad tutelar local desde cuatro siglos atrás— atraía miles de peregrinos,
incluyendo caciques extranjeros que acudían a que les hicieran las horadaciones faciales para portar
los ornamentos de nuevos cargos.
1RVDEHPRVODDQWLJHGDGGHHVDSRWHVWDGGH&KROXODSDUDYDOLGDULQYHVWLGXUDVIRUiQHDVSHUROD
VHFXHQFLDGHOD*UDQ3LUiPLGHHOPRQWtFXORSUHFRORPELQRDPHULFDQRGHPD\RUYROXPHQ²PSRUODGR\PiVGHPGHDOWXUD²UHYHODTXHDOPHQRVVXFDOLGDGVDFUDVtWLHQHXQDODUJDKLVWRULDTXH
trascendió cambios políticos, ideológicos y étnicos, y expresa el singular carácter que hizo a Cholula
equiparable, según los españoles del siglo XVI, a Roma y Meca. Las raíces de esa sacralidad parecen
remontarse al siglo I, cuando tras una colosal erupción del volcán Popocatépetl se erigió la primera
HWDSDPRQXPHQWDOGHO7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWOSHURDXQTXHORVPRWLYRVSDUDGLFKDFRQVWUXFFLyQFRQIHULUtDQD
Cholula una notoriedad especial, no explican cómo ésta se acrecentaría centuria tras centuria.
(ODQiOLVLVGHOGHVDUUROORGHODSLUiPLGHSXHGHD\XGDUHQHVHHQLJPD(QWUH\,JQDFLR
0DUTXLQDH[FDYyHQHOODFDVLNPGHW~QHOHVIXQGDPHQWDQGRTXHWHQtDYDULDVVXEHVWUXFWXUDV\ERVTXHMDQGRVXVIRUPDV\FURQRORJtD1XHVWURPDSHRKDUH¿QDGRHVDLQIRUPDFLyQUHJLVWUDGRTXHKD\mínimamente ocho etapas mayores del siglo I al VII, y viabilizado su caracterización morfológica.
Otras veces hemos abordado cómo los nuevos datos contribuyen a entender cómo Cholula generó
su aura sacra, perspectivas que aquí resumimos enfatizando los constructos simbólicos de la Gran
3LUiPLGHVXRULJHQXQL¿FDGRUHQODUHFRQ¿JXUDFLyQSRVWHUXSFLyQVXGHVDUUROOR\ODHVWUDWHJLDLQFOX\HQWHTXHVXDUTXLWHFWXUDH[SUHVD\VXDWHQFLyQDORKXPDQR\ORGLYLQR(VER]DPRVGHVSXpV
cómo la incesante construcción durante seis siglos en el Tlachihualtépetl indica que la atracción
UHOLJLRVDUHSRUWDGDHQOD&RORQLDGHEHKDEHULGHQWL¿FDGRD&KROXODGHVGHHOVLJOR,\FyPRHOGLVHxR
del complejo piramidal y sus referencias al inframundo y al Popocatépetl, sugieren su dedicación al
volcán y su “autodesignación” como centro del cosmos.

218

2QDPLG2FWREHUGD\LQSHRSOHLQWKHZHVWHUQ

Figure 18.1.

3XHEOD7OD[FDOD9DOOH\PXVWKDYHSDXVHGWKHLUFKRUHVWR/RFDWLRQRI&KROXODLQ3XHEOD0H[LFREHORZWKHFHQWHUDGPLUHWKHXQXVXDOWURRSVKHDGLQJVRXWK7OD[FDOWHFDQ

of the prehispanic city as illustrated in the sixtheenth,QGLDQVDQGRWKHUVZKRVHDWWLUHVLJQDOHGYDULHGRULJLQVFHQWXU\0DSDGH&XDXKWLQFKDQVKRZLQJDUHWLFXODWHG

HVFRUWHGDJURXSRISDOHLQGLYLGXDOVVRPHRQIRRWDQG

Tlachihualtépetl to signal it was a man-made hill (redrawn

RWKHUV PRXQWHG RQ VWUDQJH EHDVWV DQG ZKRVH QHYHU

IURP6ROtV 9HODVTXH]S 

EHIRUHVHHQFORWKLQJDQGZHDSRQVVKLPPHUHGXQGHUWKHDXWXPQVXQ7KH6SDQLVKDUP\FRPPDQGHGE\&DSWDLQ+HUQDQGR&RUWpVDQGERXQGIRU7HQRFKWLWODQPXVWKDYH
EHHQ D VSHFWDFOH ZRUWK\ RI DWWHQWLRQ PRUH SHUKDSVEHFDXVHRIWKHFXULRVLW\WRYHULI\WKHVSUHDGLQJUXPRUVDERXWWKHDUULYDORIH[RWLFKXPDQEHLQJVZLWKGLVFRORUHG
VNLQDQGXQLQWHOOLJLEOHODQJXDJHWKDQIRUWKHIRUHERGLQJWKDWWKH0HVRDPHULFDQZRUOGZRXOGVRRQEHGUDPDWLFDOO\WUDQVIRUPHG
$IWHUWKHFDUDYDQOHIWEHKLQGWKH7OD[FDODQGRPDLQV
LWLVHDV\WRLPDJLQHWKDWVRPHRQHDPRQJWKH(XURSHDQ¶VLQGLJHQRXVDOOLHVPXVWKDYHSRLQWHGRXWWKHHOHYDWLRQWKDW
IURPDGLVWDQFHKHUDOGHGWKHSUR[LPLW\RI&KROXOD )LJXUH
 RQHRI0HVRDPHULFD¶VPRVWVDFUHGFLWLHVDQDQFLHQWDQGJLJDQWLFFRQVWUXFWLRQRQFHPDMHVWLFDQGWRZKLFKWKH
GHFD\IURPDOPRVWQLQHFHQWXULHVRIDEDQGRQPHQWKDGJLYHQ
WKHDSSHDUDQFHRIMXVWDQRWKHURIWKHKLOOVWKDWKHUHDQGWKHUH
SXQFWXDWHGWKHSODLQV1HYHUWKHOHVVH[SRVHGIUDJPHQWVRIDGREHDQGVWRQHEHWUD\HGLWVKXPDQPDQXIDFWXUH GH

Figure 18.2.

%HQDYHQWHS DVGLGLWVQDPH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO

Aerial view from the south of the Tlachihualtépetl (photo

RU³KDQGPDGHKLOO´ GH5RMDVS WRGD\FDOOHG

by Shigeru Kabata, Tetimpa Project archive).

WKH*UHDW3\UDPLG )LJXUH $WWKDWWLPHWKHHQRUPRXVPRXQGHURGHGDQGFRYHUHGZLWKYHJHWDWLRQZDVFURZQHGRQO\E\DPRGHVWGHFUHSLWVKULQH GH%HQDYHQWHS WR&KLFRQDKXL4XLDKXLWO
³+HZKR5DLQV1LQH7LPHV´ GH5RMDVS ZLWKRXWUHYHDOLQJWKHPDQ\VXSHULPSRVHGFRQVWUXFWLRQVWKDWIRUPHGLW)URPLWVVXPPLWRQHFRXOGJUDVS&KROXOD¶VVSOHQGRULWVJULGLURQSODQWKDWKRVWHGDGPLQLVWUDWLYH
EXLOGLQJVVFKRROVZRUNVKRSVDQGDURXQGKRPHV

219

&RUWpVS DQGLWVOLYHO\PDUNHWZKHUHIRUHLJQ220&KULVWLDQLW\RUWKH0HFFDRI,VODP GH5RMDV 

DQG ORFDO JRRGV FLUFXODWHG OLNH WKH UHJLRQ¶V FRYHWHG

7KHURRWVRIWKDWKRO\DXUDDSSHDUWRGDWHEDFNWRFRFKLQHDO WKDW JDYH D EULOOLDQW JDUQHW WLQW DQG WKHWKHEHJLQQLQJRIRXU(UDOLQNHGWRWKHFRQVHTXHQFHVPDJQL¿FHQW&KROXOWHFDQFHUDPLFVZKLFKZHUHXVHGHYHQ

RIDFRORVVDOHUXSWLRQRI3RSRFDWpSHWO9ROFDQR 3DQ¿OE\WKH$]WHFHPSHURULQ7HQRFKWLWODQ 'tD]GHO&DVWLOOR3OXQNHW 8UXxXHOD WKDWDOWHUHGWKHFXOWXUDOS %XWZKDWPRVWDVWRQLVKHG&RUWpV S

WUDMHFWRU\LQWKH0H[LFDQ+LJKODQGV7KHF\FOHRIQHZ ZDVWKHTXDQWLW\RIWHPSOHVDOPRVW7KHJUHDWHVWFUHDWLRQWKDWDURVHWRFRQIURQWWKLVFDODPLW\ZLWQHVVHGWKH

RIWKHVHQHDUE\WRWKHQRUWKZHVWDQGGHGLFDWHGWRWKHSDWURQELUWKRIWKH¿UVWPRQXPHQWDOVWDJHRIWKH*UHDW3\UDPLGGHLW\4XHW]DOFyDWO GH5RMDV KDGEHHQUDLVHGXQGHU

8UXxXHODHWDO +RZHYHUDOWKRXJK²DVZHVKDOO

7ROWHFUXOHVLQFHDOPRVWIRXUFHQWXULHVEHIRUHZKHQLWKDG

VHH²WKH UHDVRQV WKDW SURPSWHG WKDW HGLILFH ZHUH RI

UHSODFHGWKHFXOWDWWKH*UHDW3\UDPLG7KH4XHW]DOFyDWO

VX൶FLHQWZHLJKWWRWKHQJLYH&KROXODDVSHFLDOVWDWXUH

SUHFLQFWD൵RUGHGDQHQRUPRXVDWWUDFWLRQIRUWKRXVDQGVRI

3OXQNHW 8UXxXHOD8UXxXHODHWDO WKH\SLOJULPVLQFOXGLQJUXOHUVIURPGLVWDQWUHJLRQVZKRXSRQDUHQRWHQRXJKWRH[SODLQKRZLWFRQVHUYHGDQGLQFUHDVHGLQKHULWLQJWKHLUUHDOPMRXUQH\HGWRWKLVFLW\VRWKDWLWVKLJK

century after century, its reputation as an acclaimed and

SULHVWVFRXOGSLHUFHWKHLUHDUVQRVHDQGRUORZHUOLSWR

WHHPLQJSLOJULPDJHKXE

LQVHUWWKHRUQDPHQWVWKDWZRXOGUDWLI\WKHLUQHZDXWKRULW\

7KHDQDO\VLVRIWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO¶VJURZWKFDQKHOS

GH5RMDV DQGVRPHRIWKHPHYHQNHSWWKHLURZQXQUDYHOWKLVHQLJPDEXWZKLOHLWVLPSRVLQJSUHVHQFHGUHZ

SDODFHVLQWKLVPHWURSROLV GH%HQDYHQWHS 

WKHDWWHQWLRQRIWUDYHOHUVDQGH[SORUHUVDIWHUWKH&RQTXHVW$VPRGHUQ&KROXODFRYHUVWKHYHVWLJHVRIWKHDQFLHQW

LWZDVQRWXQWLOEHWZHHQDQGWKDWWKHH[FDYDWLRQVVHWWOHPHQWZKRVHEHJLQQLQJVUHDFKEDFNWR%&

GLUHFWHGE\,JQDFLR0DUTXLQD >(G@ SHUIRUDWHG

3OXQNHW 8UXxXHODS8UXxXHODHWDOLWZLWKDOPRVWNPRIWXQQHOV GHOD/X] &RQWUHUDVS ZHGRQRWNQRZWKHORQJHYLW\RI&KROXOD¶VUROHLQ DQGSURYLGHGWKHIXQGDPHQWDOGDWDWRVKRZWKDWLWYDOLGDWLQJIRUHLJQVRYHUHLJQV1RQHWKHOHVVWKHVHTXHQFH

KDGEHHQVXEMHFWWRVHYHUDOFRQVWUXFWLYHPRPHQWVZLWKD

RIWKH*UHDW3\UDPLGLVOLNHDVWRQHDQGDGREHGRFXPHQWVXLJHQHULVPRUSKRORJ\\HWJLYHQWKHLUFRPSOH[LW\WKHLUWKDWPLUURUVWKHVHWWOHPHQW¶VVRFLDOHYROXWLRQDQGLWV

VSHFL¿FIRUPDQGGDWLQJZHUHRQO\URXJKO\RXWOLQHG,Q

VWXG\VKRZVWKDWDWOHDVWLWVTXDOLW\DVDVDFUHGSODFHGRHVUHFHQWGHFDGHVRXUPDSSLQJKDVUH¿QHGWKLVLQIRUPDWLRQ

VHHPWRKDYHKDGDORQJKLVWRU\WKDWZDVSUHVHUYHGLQ

DQGHVWDEOLVKHGWKDWWKHVHTXHQFHFRQVLVWVRIDWOHDVWHLJKW

local memory, transcending political, ideological, andPDLQVWDJHVVSDQQLQJIURPWKH¿UVWFHQWXU\XQWLOWKHHQG

HYHQHWKQLFFKDQJHV7KH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWOZKRVHDOPRVWRIWKHVL[WKRUWKHEHJLQQLQJRIWKHVHYHQWKUHFRYHULQJPVTXDUHEDVHDQGPRUHWKDQPHOHYDWLRQ 0DUTXLQD

DOVRWKHPRUSKRORJLFDOGLPHQVLRQDODQGFKURQRORJLFDOSS PDNHLWYROXPHWULFDOO\WKHODUJHVWSUH

FKDUDFWHUL]DWLRQRIWKHVH

&ROXPELDQPRQXPHQWRQWKH$PHULFDQ&RQWLQHQWZRXOG&RQVLGHULQJ PRQXPHQWDO DUFKLWHFWXUH DV D

H[SUHVVIURPLWVEHJLQQLQJVDQGWKURXJKRXWLWVGL൵HUHQWPDWHULDOL]DWLRQRIJRYHUQPHQWDOSRZHURQRWKHURFFDVLRQVVWDJHVWKHWUDMHFWRU\WKDWZRXOGFRQYHUW&KROXODLQWRVXFKZHKDYHDGGUHVVHGKRZWKHQHZLQWHUSUHWDWLRQVHQDEOHG

DQLOOXVWULRXVVDQFWXDU\WKDWWKH6SDQLDUGVZKREHKHOGE\WKLVZRUNFRQWULEXWHWRRXUXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI&KROXOD¶V

LWLQWKHVL[WHHQWKFHQWXU\FRPSDUHGLWWRWKH5RPHRIULVHDVDVDFUHGFLW\DTXDOLW\WKDWLWPDLQWDLQVHYHQWRGD\3OXQNHW 8UXxXHOD8UXxXHOD 3OXQNHW 

RIWKH*UHDW3\UDPLG/RV&KDSXOLQHVZDVLQLWLDWHGLQ

7DNLQJLQWRDFFRXQWERWKWKHREMHFWLYHVRIWKH2XWRI

WKH\HDUVDIWHUWKHHUXSWLRQ8QGHUWDNLQJDODUJHSURMHFW(XUDVLDSURMHFWDQGWKDWSHUKDSVPDQ\FROOHDJXHVZKRWRSODFDWHWKHGLYLQHDQJHUH[SHOOHGE\WKHYROFDQRFRXOGVWXG\RWKHUFXOWXUHVLQRWKHUSODFHVDQGWLPHVPD\QRWEH

WDNHDGYDQWDJHRIWKHH[WUDZRUNIRUFHFRQVWLWXWHGE\IDPLOLDUZLWK&KROXODZHZLOO¿UVWR൵HUVRPHFRQWH[W

WKHUHIXJHHVDQGDWWKHVDPHWLPHSURGXFHDV\PERORIFRPPRQLGHQWLW\IRUWKHKHWHURJHQHRXVVRFLHW\IRUPHGThe Origins of the Tlachihualtépetl

E\LPPLJUDQWVDQGORFDOV 8UXxXHODHWDO )URP&KROXODLVWKHROGHVWFRQWLQXRXVO\LQKDELWHGVHWWOHPHQW

/RV&KDSXOLQHVRQZDUGVFHUWDLQGLVWLQFWLYHWUDLWVZRXOGLQ0HVRDPHULFD<HWXQWLOWKHEHJLQQLQJVRIRXU(UDLWZDVFKDUDFWHUL]HWKHVXFFHVVLYHVWDJHVRIWKHPRXQG 8UXxXHODMXVWRQHRIVHYHUDOYLOODJHVRQWKHYDOOH\ÀRRUODUJHUVLWHV

HWDO8UXxXHOD 3OXQNHW DVWHQGHGWREHORFDWHGFORVHUWRWKHSLHGPRQW7KXV&KROXODWKH\GL൵HUIURPWKRVHRIRWKHU0HVRDPHULFDQS\UDPLGVKDGDPLOOHQQLXPRIXQH[FHSWLRQDOOLIHEHIRUHLWEHFDPH

ZHZLOOUHFDSLWXODWHWKHP

DFLW\$QGLWVKLVWRU\ZRXOGKDYHEHHQDQRWKHUSHUKDSV 7KHIXQGDPHQWDORQHLVWKDWWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWOLVQRWOHVVIDPRXVLIGXULQJWKHVHFRQGKDOIRIWKH¿UVWFHQWXU\SURSHUO\DS\UDPLG,WVPRUSKRORJ\LVPXFKPRUHLQWULFDWH

$'D3OLQLDQHUXSWLRQRI3RSRFDWpSHWOKDGQRWLQWHUYHQHG

DQGFRQVLVWVRIDFRPSOH[RIFRQQHFWHGVWUXFWXUHVDFHQWUDO3OXQNHW 8UXxXHOD8UXxXHODHWDO 

S\UDPLGDOPRGXOHZLWKPXOWLSOHEXLOGLQJVDWWDFKHGWRHDFK

7KHH[SORVLRQSURGXFHGDQDOPRVWNPKLJKFROXPQRILWVIRXUVLGHV2

ZKRVHFROODSVHGHSRVLWHGNP RISXPLFHRYHUNP

 6HFRQGHYHQWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOHZDVXQOLNHRWKHUQRUWKHDVWRIWKHFUDWHUDQGWKHQDODYDÀRZDOWHUHGWKH

S\UDPLGVD DVDQD[LVPXQGLLWGLGQRWKDYHRQHPDLQK\GURORJ\RIWKHDUHD 3DQ¿O 7KRXVDQGVRIIDPLOLHVIDoDGHEXWIRXUE LWZDVDV\PPHWULFDOF LWSULYLOHJHGWKH

ÀHGIURPWKHVORSHVDQGPRYHGGRZQWRFRPPXQLWLHVWKDWPHVVDJHFRQYH\HGE\LWVJOREDOIRUPRYHUWKHSUHFLVLRQZRXOGKDYHWRFRQIURQWXQH[SHFWHGFKDOOHQJHVFDXVHG

RIWKHGHWDLOVG LQVWHDGRIDVLQJOHVWDLUFDVHWKHVHYHUDOE\WKHPLJUDWRU\LQÀX[VRPHNPIURPWKHFUDWHUMXVWVWDLUZD\VRQLWVIRXUIDFDGHVDQGOHDGLQJWRKXJHWHUUDFHVRXWVLGHWKHKD]DUG]RQH&KROXODZDVRQHRIWKRVHUHFLSLHQWWKDWFRXOGDFFRPPRGDWHKXQGUHGVRISDULVKLRQHUVVWDWHG

ORFDOLWLHV 3OXQNHW 8UXxXHOD8UXxXHODHWDO

DQLQFOXVLYHPHVVDJHZKLFKZDVUHLQIRUFHGE\WKHRSHQ 

VSDFHRQLWVVXPPLWH WKDWLQFOXVLYHFKDUDFWHULVDOVR

7KHFDWDVWURSKHQRWRQO\FRPSHOOHGWKHUHDUUDQJHPHQWUHÀHFWHGLQLWVPDQXIDFWXUHDVLWVKRZVWKHFROODERUDWLRQRIWKHVHWWOHPHQWSDWWHUQEXWDFFRUGLQJO\DVRFLRSROLWLFDO

RIGLYHUVHFUHZVRULQGLYLGXDOVZLWKGL൵HUHQWWHFKQLTXHVUHFRQ¿JXUDWLRQ:LWKWKHDEDQGRQPHQWRIPRVWRIWKH

DQGRUDELOLWLHVI HDFKVWDJHOHIWH[SRVHGVRPHVHFWLRQSULPDU\FHQWHUVDIWHUWKHGLVDVWHUWKHVFHQDULRXQWLOWKHQ

RILWVSUHGHFHVVRUDVLIWRYDOLGDWHWKHFRQWLQXLW\EHWZHHQFRQWUROOHG E\ FRPSHWLQJ FKLHIGRPV VKLIWHG WRZDUGVWKHROGDQGWKHQHZJ HDFKVWDJHLVQRWMXVWDODUJHUD FRQFHQWUDWLRQ RI SRSXODWLRQ DQG SRZHU DW &KROXODUHSURGXFWLRQRIWKHSUHYLRXVDQGVRPHWLPHVHYHQWKHVW\OH

FRQYHUWLQJLWLQWRWKHUHJLRQ¶VNH\FRPPXQLW\DQGLQLWLDWLQJUDGLFDOO\FKDQJHGDQGK WZRWKHPHVFRQVWDQWWKURXJKRXWLWVSDWKDVDQXUEDQFXOWFHQWHUZKRVHVDFUHGQHVVZRXOG

WKHVHTXHQFHDUHWKHUHIHUHQFHVWRWKH8QGHUZRUOGDQGWKHEHFRPHOHJHQGDU\ 3OXQNHW 8UXxXHOD 

OLQNZLWK3RSRFDWpSHWO

,WLVQRFRLQFLGHQFHWKDWWKH¿UVWPRQXPHQWDOYHUVLRQ221

The Tlachihualtépetl’s Sequence:LWKWKRVHWUDLWVLQPLQGZHFDQQRZEULHÀ\DWWHQGWKH

WRLW )LJXUHERWWRP &RXOGWKHVHEHUHIHUHQFHVWRD

VHTXHQFHZHKDYHUHFRQVWUXFWHGXSXQWLOQRZ )LJXUH ODWHU1iKXDWOQDPHRIWKH8QGHUZRUOGin atlan in oztoc

DQGRXUPDLQREVHUYDWLRQVDERXWLWVV\PEROLFFRQVWUXFWVLQWKHZDWHULQWKHFDYH  0RQWHVGH2FDS "

3OXQNHW3OXQNHW 8UXxXHOD8UXxXHODHW

7KHGHGLFDWLRQWR3RSRFDWpSHWOLVDOVRUHFRJQL]DEOH

DO8UXxXHOD 3OXQNHW$OWKRXJK/RV&KDSXOLQHVKDVIRXUIDFDGHVLWVODUJHVW

8UXxXHOD 5REOHV 0DUTXLQD¶V  

VWDLUZD\LVORFDWHGRQWKHZHVWHUQRQHIDFLQJWKHYROFDQRUHVXOWVSUHVHQWHGWKUHHPDMRUEXLOGLQJF\FOHVIRUWKHFHQWUDOWKDWKDGMXVWVRYLROHQWO\WUDQVIRUPHGOLIHLQWKHYDOOH\

PRGXOH\HWWKHPRUHWKDQNPRIWXQQHOVWKDWZHKDYHDOUHDG\PDSSHGVKRZDWOHDVWHLJKW

2YHUWKHQH[W¿YHKXQGUHG\HDUVWKHVDFUHGFLW\WKDWZDVDVKHOWHUDIWHUWKHHUXSWLRQZRXOGPDWHULDOL]HLWV

7KH¿UVWPRQXPHQWDOVWDJH/RV&KDSXOLQHVDFWXDOO\SUHVWLJHDQGUHOLJLRXVSRZHUE\H[SDQGLQJWKHPRQXPHQWFRYHUHG D VPDOO SODWIRUP²/D 2OOD²WKDW DOUHDG\WKDWWRZDUGVWKHHQGRIWKH¿UVWFHQWXU\DSSDUHQWO\KDG

GHPDUFDWHGWKHVHWWOHPHQW¶VFHUHPRQLDOFRUHSULRUWR

VXFFHHGHGLQSODFDWLQJQDWXUH¶VUDJHDQGLQJHQHUDWLQJDWKHHUXSWLRQ/RV&KDSXOLQHVDUWLFXODWHVDQHFXPHQLFDOXQLI\LQJLGHQWLW\

PHVVDJHQRWRQO\E\LWVFRPELQDWLRQRIYROXPHVDQGODUJH

7KHWKLUGVWDJH/RV7DEOHURV/LVRVHPXODWHGWKH

RSHQVSDFHVDQGLWVPXOWLSOHVWDLUFDVHV²WKDWUHPLQGXV

PRUSKRORJ\RI/RV&KDSXOLQHVEXWLWVQRUWKÀDQNDGGHG

RIWKHVRFDOOHGDFURSROLVRIVRXWKHUQ0HVRDPHULFD²

DQHOHYDWHGSOD]DIDFLQJ3RSRFDWpSHWO$SOD]DLQWKLVDUHD

EXWDOVRWKURXJKLWVRUQDPHQWDWLRQ )LJXUHWRS ZRXOGEHPDLQWDLQHGLQWKHIROORZLQJVXSHUVWUXFWXUHV

2QLWVQRUWKIDoDGHEDQGVRIKXPDQVNXOOVSDLQWHGE\

7KH IRXUWK VWDJH ZDV WKH (VFDORQDGR  ZLWK DQ

GL൵HUHQWKDQGVDGRUQWKHVL[WKDQGVHYHQWKWLHUVDQG

LQQRYDWLYHGHVLJQ,WVQLQHWLHUV²SHUKDSVDUHIHUHQFHWRWKHVPDOO&KDSXOLQFLWRV3ODWIRUPRQWKHIRXUWK7KHVH

WKHQLQHOHYHOVRIWKH8QGHUZRUOG²ZHUHFRYHUHGRQDOOEDQGVIDFLQJWKHGLUHFWLRQWKDWODWHUFXOWXUHVDVVRFLDWHG

VLGHVE\VWHSVWKXVLQYLWLQJIUHHDFFHVVDQGLQWHQVLI\LQJWKH

ZLWKWKHZRUOGRIWKHGHDG /HyQ3RUWLOODS 

SDUWLFLSDWLYHPHVVDJHSUHYLRXVO\H[SUHVVHGE\WKHVHYHUDO

VHHPWREHDPDVVLYHFRPPXQLFDWLRQH൵RUWWKDWOLQNHGWKH

VWDLUFDVHVEXLOGLQJZLWKWKH8QGHUZRUOGDQGWKHDQFHVWRUVDWRSLF

&RQWHPSRUDU\ ZLWK WKH (VFDORQDGR  D SDODFH

easily understandable by locals and refugees, as ancestor

H[WHQGLQJVRXWKIURPWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOHH[KLELWVWKH

YHQHUDWLRQZDVDQDQFLHQW0HVRDPHULFDQWUDGLWLRQ7KH

%HEHGRUHV0XUDODPORQJDQGPKLJKFRPSRVLWLRQVNXOOVGRQRWUHSUHVHQWSDUWLFXODULQGLYLGXDOVWKH\DUH

RILQGLYLGXDOVGULQNLQJDQDOFRKROLFEHYHUDJH:HDUH

DQRQ\PRXVDFRQJUHJDWLRQRIJHQHULFDQFHVWRUVWKDWFRXOGVWLOOYLUWXDOO\UHFRQVWUXFWLQJLW )LJXUH EXWZHKDYHDQFKRURQWKLV³PDQPDGHKLOO´DQHZFRPPRQLGHQWLW\D

LGHQWL¿HGDWOHDVWVHYHQGL൵HUHQWSDLQWHUVWKXVWKLVZDV

ERQGIRUDPL[HGSRSXODWLRQLQZKLFKWKHSULRULPSRUWDQFH

DOVRDFROODERUDWLYHH൵RUW

RIYLOODJHJHQHDORJLHVKDGWREHUHDUUDQJHGWRFRQ¿JXUHDQHZVRFLHW\222

DVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKDWZDWHU\UHDOP²DQGDFDYH²DSRUWDO$QRWKHULPSRUWDQWDVSHFWLVWKDWDWOHDVWIURPWKH
(VFDORQDGRRQZDUGVWKHHQWLUHVHTXHQFHRIEXLOGLQJV$QRWKHUDOOXVLRQWRWKH8QGHUZRUOGLVIRXQGLQ/RV

DWWDFKHGWRWKHVRXWKVLGHRIWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOHZDV&KDSXOLQHV¶DUFKLWHFWXUDOSODQDVWKHXSSHUWKUHHWLHUVGHFRUDWHGZLWKPRWLIVUHODWHGWRWKH8QGHUZRUOG )LJXUH

VHHPWRUHSUHVHQWLQFURVVVHFWLRQDVKHOO²DQHOHPHQW 9HUWLFDODQGLQYHUWHG7¶VIRUPDSOD\RIFDYH

Figure 18.3.
,VRPHWULFQRUWKZHVWYLHZRIWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOH¶VVHTXHQFHDFFRUGLQJWRRXUPDSSLQJ ZHDUHVWLOOZRUNLQJRQ6WDJHV
and 8, and on many of the extensions towards the fourth directions).

223

Figure 18.4.

PRXQWDLQDQGVWDU¿VKVHWRQGLDJRQDOEDQGVLQGLFDWLQJ

Los Chapulines. Top: Isometric view of the building.

VWRQHPLJKWLOOXVWUDWHWKH1iKXDWOPHWDSKRUatl-tépetl WKHBottom: Plan of the building, showing in cross-section aZDWHUWKHKLOO ZKLFKPHDQVFLW\VWDWH 'HKRXYH

shell (in blue) and a cave (in brown). (Drawings based onSS RULQDSRO\YDOHQWVHQVHWKHVWDU¿VKDQLPDOV8UXxXHODHWDO)LJDQG8UXxXHODHWDO

IURPWKHSULPRUGLDOVHDFRXOGDJDLQFLWHWKH8QGHUZRUOG)LJV

7KH¿IWKVWDJHWKH(VFDORQDGRUHSHDWHGWKHGHVLJQRIWKH(VFDORQDGREXWDWWDFKHGDVPDOOSODWIRUPWRWKH
HOHYDWHGZHVWHUQSOD]D7RZDUGVWKHHQGRIWKH(VFDORQDGR¶VH[LVWHQFHDÀLJKWRIVWHSV²DUHIHUHQFHWRDIXOOF\FOH
RI0HVRDPHULFD¶VVRODUFDOHQGDU²ZDVVXSHULPSRVHGRQLWVQRUWKVLGHZKHUHWKHVHVWDLUVOHDGWRVWLOOUHPDLQVDP\VWHU\%HWZHHQWKH¿IWKDQGVL[WKVWDJHVWKHUHZDVDYDVWDPRXQWRIFRQVWUXFWLRQLQ$UHD'DWWKHQRUWKHDVWFRUQHU
RIWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO7KRVHEXLOGLQJVZHUHHYHQWXDOO\
DQQH[HGWRWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOH
:HFDQRQO\R൵HUDVNHWFKRIWKHVL[WKDQGVHYHQVWDJHVVLQFHZHKDYHQRW¿QLVKHGPDSSLQJWKHP,QWKHVL[WKLWVQHZYHUVLRQRIWKHDEXWWLQJSODWIRUPRQWKHZHVWLV
WKHVRFDOOHG7ROWHF3\UDPLG²QRWEHFDXVHRIDQ\HWKQLF
DVVRFLDWLRQEXWDUHIHUHQFHWRWKHFHPHQWEUDQGXVHGLQLWV
UHVWRUDWLRQ5HJDUGLQJWKHVHYHQWKLWDSSDUHQWO\HQODUJHGRQO\WKHORZHUKDOIRIWKHPRQXPHQWDQGLWVZHVWHUQDEXWWLQJSODWIRUPZDVGLVPDQWOHGGXULQJ0DUTXLQD¶V
H[SORUDWLRQVWROHDYHYLVLEOHWKHHDUOLHU³7ROWHF3\UDPLG´
0DUTXLQDS 

Figure 18.5.
Detail of the Bebedores Mural (drawing by Gabriela
Uruñuela).

7KHHLJKWKVWDJHZDVWKHODVWLQWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOHDQG
LWZDVWKHRQH0DUTXLQDXVHGWRREWDLQWKHGLPHQVLRQVRIPVTXDUHEDVHDQGPRUHWKDQPHOHYDWLRQE\DOVRLQFOXGLQJWKHEXLOGLQJVDWWDFKHGWRLW,WVVWRQHIDFLQJZDVUHPRYHGLQSUHKLVSDQLFWLPHVEXWLWVDGREHFRUHYLVLEOHWRGD\LQFRQMXQFWLRQZLWK%DQGHOLHU¶V 3ODWHV;,,,
DQG;,9 QLQHWHHQWKFHQWXU\GUDZLQJV )LJXUH VKRZVWKDWLWWRRKDGDUDGLDOGHVLJQZLWKIRXUIDFDGHV,QWKHWLPHVRI6WDJHDURXQGWKHWXUQRIWKHVHYHQWKFHQWXU\ WKH &HQWUDO +LJKODQGV ZHUH LQ WXUPRLO7KH

224

Figure 18.6.
2UQDPHQWDWLRQRQWKHEXLOGLQJVRIWKHS\UDPLGDOFRPSOH[¶VVRXWKVLGH UHGUDZQIURP5RGUtJXH]S 

7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWOZDVVXEMHFWHGWRDQLUUHYHUHQWIXU\WKDWLV

Figure 18.7.

DSSDUHQWLQWKHSURIDQDWLRQRIWKHIRXUVWRQHPRQXPHQWVThe Great Pyramid according to Bandelier: cross-section

LQWKH3DWLRRIWKH$OWDUVRQWKHVRXWKVLGHRIWKHS\UDPLGDO

on top and plan at bottom (north towards top) (re-drawn

FRPSOH[ )LJXUH 7KHVHPRQROLWKVZHUHRULJLQDOO\DQGVLPSOL¿HGIURP%DQGHOLHU3ODWH;,,,)LJV 

DUUDQJHGLQWZRDOWDUVWHODVHWVRQHRQWKHHDVWVLGHDQG
RQHRQWKHZHVWDQG0DUTXLQD¶VSURMHFWFDOOHGWKHP
teoicpallin 6DOD]DUS VDFUHGVHDWVRUWKURQHV2Q
WKHHDVWSDLULQWHUWZLQHGYROXWHVWKDWUHFDOOWKHPHWDSKRU in
ayahuitl-in poctli WKHPLVWWKHVPRNH  6XOOLYDQDQG.QDES HYRNHDGHFHDVHGUXOHUVJORU\DQGWKXVWKH
ZRUOGRIWKHDQFHVWRUV2QWKHDOWDURIWKHZHVWSOXPHG
VHUSHQWVV\PEROVRIDXWKRULW\XQGXODWHWKURXJKFORXGVFUROOV*LYHQWKHDQWLSRGDOSRVLWLRQLQJRIWKHSDLUVRQH
FRXOGKDYHEHHQXVHGIRUWKHHQWKURQHPHQWRIQHZOHDGHUVDQGWKHRWKHUIRUWKHIXQHUDOVRIGHFHDVHGVRYHUHLJQV7KH
YLRODWLRQRIWKHVHPRQXPHQWVEHIRUHWKH\ZHUH¿QLVKHG
HYLGHQFHVDVHYHUHLGHRORJLFDOFULVLVDQGZHFDQDVVXPHWKDWLWSURYRNHGDVLJQL¿FDQWGHFUHDVHLQGRQDWLRQVWRWKH
VDQFWXDU\HYHQWXDOO\OHDGLQJWRLWVQHJOHFW+RZHYHUXQOLNHRWKHUFLWLHVD൵HFWHGE\WKHFKDRWLF
FOLPDWHRIWKDWSHULRG&KROXODZDVQHYHUDEDQGRQHGLQVWHDGLWSHUSHWXDWHGHYHQXQWLOWRGD\LWVVDFUHGVWDWXVDFTXLUHGDWWKHGDZQRIRXU(UD7RXVWKLVZDVSRVVLEOH

225

Figure 18.8.
6RXWKVLGHRIWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWOZLWKFRUUHVSRQGLQJSODQRIWKH3DWLRRIWKH$OWDUV%RWWRP$OWDU OHIW DQG$OWDU
(right).

226

GXHWRWKHVWUDWHJ\WKDW&KROXODXVHG²DQGVWLOOGRHVZKLOHDOZD\VOLYHO\DOZD\VXQGHUFRQVWUXFWLRQDFFRPSOLVKLQJWKHPLVVLRQWRSURSLWLDWHWKHVXSHUQDWXUDO

*LYHQWKHODFNRIZULWWHQUHFRUGV WKHUHDUHQRJO\SKVLQ

EH VXUH WR DFWLYHO\ LQFRUSRUDWH WKH FRPPXQLW\ 7KH&KROXODXQWLOVHYHUDOFHQWXULHVDIWHUWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO¶V

7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO¶VVXSHUQDWXUDOUHIHUHQFHVDUHUHODWHGWRODVWVWDJH KRZZRXOGWKHGRQDWLRQVDQGODERUUHTXLUHG

WKH8QGHUZRUOGDYHU\DQFLHQWEHOLHIVRIXQGDPHQWDOWRIRUWKRVHXQFHDVLQJEXLOGLQJDFWLYLWLHVRYHUVXFKDYHU\

DOO0HVRDPHULFDQVWKDWLWFRXOGIXQFWLRQDVZKDW+DUDUL

ORQJWHUPKDYHEHHQUHFRUGHGDQGDGPLQLVWHUHG"+RZ

 3RVLWLRQ   FDOOV D ³P\WKLFDO JOXH´ WR ELQG

ZHUHJLIWVDSSUDLVHGPDWHULDOVFDOFXODWHGDQGERXJKWRU

WRJHWKHUODUJHQXPEHUVRIRWKHUZLVHGLVVLPLODUJURXSVRIVDODULHVGHWHUPLQHG"7KLVPDNHVXVWKLQNRIWKH6XPHULDQVLQGLYLGXDOV7RUHLQIRUFHWKDWWLHLQSUDFWLFHWKHPHVVDJHZKRHPSOR\HGVWDQGDUGL]HGERZOVDV¿[HGPHDVXUHPHQWVRILQFOXVLRQZDVPDGHDSSDUHQWDOOWKURXJKLWVVHTXHQFH

RIEDUOH\WKDWFRXOGEHXVHGWRHYDOXDWHVSHFL¿FJRRGVERWKLQLWVPDQXIDFWXUHE\KHWHURJHQHRXVFUHZVDVLQWKH

DQGVHUYLFHV +DUDUL3RVLWLRQ &RXOG

PHVVDJHRILWVPRUSKRORJ\WKDWFRXQWHULQJWKHH[FOXVLRQWKHLPPHQVHDPRXQWRIDSSDUHQWO\KRPRJHQHRXVEURZQRIRWKHUS\UDPLGVLQGLFDWHVWKDWWKHEXONRIWKHSRSXODWLRQERZOVDW&KROXODKDYHEHHQXVHGLQDVLPLODUIDVKLRQ"7KLVFRXOGDFFHVVWKHPRQXPHQWQRWRQO\WKHR൶FLDQWVDQGWKHLU

TXHVWLRQSHUKDSVFRXOGEHDGGUHVVHGE\DVWDWLVWLFVORYLQJDWWHQGDQWV7KHVHSURMHFWVZLWKVRPDQ\DFFHVVSRLQWVDQG

DUFKDHRORJLVW\RXQJHUWKDQXVODUJHRSHQVSDFHVZHUHPHDQWWRPRWLYDWHFROOHFWLYHULWXDOREVHUYDWLRQDQGSDUWLFLSDWLRQ

2QWKHRWKHUKDQGDQGPRUHWRWKHSRLQWRIWKH2XWRI(XUDVLDSURMHFWZK\ZDVWKLVFRQVWDQWSURFHVVRIFUHDWLRQSHUSHWXDWHGE\WKHYDULRXVVXFFHVVLYHDXWKRULWLHVZKR

Final Comments

SURGXFHGWKHDOZD\VJURZLQJ7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO"7KDW&KROXODVKDUHGZLWKPDQ\RWKHUFXOWXUHVIURPGL൵HUHQWEXLOGLQJUK\WKPPXVWKDYHUHTXLUHGYDVWDPRXQWVRISHULRGV DQG SODFHV WKH LPSXOVH WR HUHFW PRQXPHQWDOUHVRXUFHVSURYLGHGE\WKHIDLWKIXO7RXVLWLQGLFDWHVWKDWUHOLJLRXV EXLOGLQJV²SHUKDSV QRW RQO\ EHFDXVH WKHWKHLQWHQVHUHOLJLRXVDWWUDFWLRQUHSRUWHGLQWKHVL[WHHQWKPDWHULDOL]DWLRQRISRZHUYDOLGDWHVJRYHUQPHQWDOVWDELOLW\FHQWXU\PXVWKDYHEHHQDQDWWULEXWHRI&KROXODVLQFHWKH

EXWPD\EHDOVREHFDXVHWKHHPSOR\PHQWRIDVXSUDKXPDQHDUO\VXEVWUXFWXUHVRIWKH*UHDW3\UDPLGDQGWKDWSHUKDSVVFDOHPLJKWEHDPRUHDSSURSULDWHH[SUHVVLRQIRUWKH

WKHLQFHVVDQWFRQVWUXFWLRQZDVDPHFKDQLVPWRYLVLEO\YHQHUDWLRQRIVXSHUKXPDQHQWLWLHV²EXWWKH*UHDW3\UDPLGJXDUDQWHHWRZRUVKLSSHUVWKHULJKWIXOXVHRIWKHLUGRQDWLRQVKDVDSHFXOLDULW\7KHUDGLRFDUERQGDWLQJDQGWKHFHUDPLF

DQGWKXVVWLPXODWHWKHLUIXWXUHJHQHURVLW\FKURQRORJ\ IRU WKH ILUVW VL[ VWDJHV DQG IRU WKH LQLWLDO

2IFRXUVHWKHFRQWLQXRXVDFWLYLW\FRXOGKDYHEHHQ

constructions in Area D, indicate building cycles of about

SURPSWHGDOVRE\WKHVSLULWXDOLQWHUHVWWRSHUPDQHQWO\KDOIFHQWXU\HDFKDQGSHUKDSVLWZRXOGQRWEHWRRIDU

SURSLWLDWHWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWOVKRO\SDWURQEXWDQRWKHUIHWFKHGWRSURSRVHWKDWWKHPDLQVWDJHVZHUHEXLOWHYHU\SHQGLQJHQLJPDLVWKDWWKHVFDUFHLFRQRJUDSK\RQWKH

\HDUV6WLOOFRXQWOHVVPRGL¿FDWLRQVZHUHPDGHWRLWVPRQXPHQWGRHVQRWLQGLFDWHLILWZDVFRQVHFUDWHGWRD

PDLQVWDJHV IRULQVWDQFH6WDJHKDGPRUHWKDQPDMRUSDUWLFXODUJRG,QGHHGWKHUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIGHLWLHVLQUHQRYDWLRQV 0DQ\RIWKRVHDOWHUDWLRQVZHUHFRYHUHGE\&KROXODEHIRUHWKHWHQWKFHQWXU\LVDOPRVWQRQH[LVWHQWQHZVWUXFWXUHVHYHQEHIRUHWKH\ZHUHFRPSOHWHG7KXV

$W WKH S\UDPLGDO FRPSOH[ SOXPHG VHUSHQWV DUHWKURXJKRXWLWVHQWLUHKLVWRU\WKLVZDVDQXQ¿QLVKHGSURMHFWSRUWUD\HGRQO\LQWKUHHFDVHVDQGQRQHVHHPWRPDQLIHVW227

WKHJRGRIWKH3\UDPLG )LJXUH 2QHLVWKH-DJXDUWKHLQGLYLGXDOV VHH)LJXUH :K\ZHUHWKHERGLHVWR

3ODWIRUP²D¿UVWFHQWXU\EXLOGLQJWKDWZDVOHIWYLVLEOHRQZKRPWKH\EHORQJQRWVKRZQ"&RQVLGHULQJWKDWWKHPDLQWKHVRXWKZHVWFRUQHURIWKHODWHU(VFDORQDGRV²SDLQWHGZLWKUHIHUHQFHRIWKHVFDQWLFRQRJUDSKLFDOLQIRUPDWLRQRQWKH

IHDWKHUHGRSKLGLDQVGHIHDWLQJMDJXDUVJLYHQWKHVXEVHTXHQWGL൵HUHQWVWDJHVRIWKHS\UDPLGDOFRPSOH[LVQRWWRSDUWLFXODUH[FOXVLRQRIWKHVHIHOLQHVIURP&KROXOD¶VLFRQRJUDSK\JRGVEXWWRXQHDUWKO\GLPHQVLRQVWRXVWKRVHDUPVZHUHGXULQJWKHHSRFKRIWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO¶VFRQVWUXFWLRQLWLV

GHSLFWHGWR¿JXUDWLYHO\H[SUHVVWKHDFWLRQRIJLYLQJIURPSODXVLEOHWKDWWKLVUHIHUVWRDFRQIURQWDWLRQRIKXPDQSRZHUDQRQPDWHULDOUHDOPQRWWRLQVLQXDWHVXSHUQDWXUDOEHLQJVJURXSVV\PEROL]HGE\WKHLUHPEOHPV$QRWKHUFDVHLVRQ:KRZDVWKHQWKHGHLW\WKDWGHVHUYHGWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQ

WKH&KDSXOLQFLWRV3ODWIRUPDOVRIURPWKH¿UVWFHQWXU\DQG

RIWKHODUJHVWSUHKLVSDQLFPRQXPHQWLQWKH$PHULFDQWKHWKLUGLQVWDQFHDSSHDUVLQWKHVL[WKRUVHYHQWKFHQWXU\&RQWLQHQW"7KURXJKRXWWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO¶VVHTXHQFH

RQRQHRIWKH3DWLRRIWKH$OWDUV¶PRQXPHQWVLQWKHVHWZR

WKHDUFKLWHFWXUDOODQJXDJHFRQVWDQWO\H[SUHVVHVDOLQNZLWKFDVHVERWKVXLWDEOHORFDWLRQVWRLQDXJXUDWHDQHZUXOHUWKH

3RSRFDWpSHWO7KLVPDMHVWLFVWLOODFWLYHYROFDQR )LJXUH

SOXPHGVHUSHQWVHHPVWRKDYHEHHQHPSOR\HGDVDV\PERO ZLWKDQLPSRVLQJKHLJKWRIPRUHWKDQNPRYHUZLGHO\UHFRJQL]HGLQ0HVRDPHULFDWRYDOLGDWHDXWKRULW\WKHYDOOH\ÀRRUZDVDQHYLGHQWO\DQLPDWHGFRPSRQHQW

7KLVDQLFRQLFSDQRUDPDLVHYHQPRUHLQWULJXLQJZKHQRIQDWXUH:LWKRXWGRXEWWKRVHWUDLWVPXVWKDYHPDGHLWZHWXUQWRWKH%HEHGRUHV0XUDO7KHVFHQHLWLOOXVWUDWHVKDV

WKHVDFUHGPRXQWDLQSDUH[FHOOHQFHERWKORFDOO\DQGZHOOEHHQWUDGLWLRQDOO\LQWHUSUHWHGDVDPXQGDQHHYHQWKRZHYHU

EH\RQGWKH3XHEOD7OD[FDOD9DOOH\,WZRXOGEHWRREURDGLVRODWHGDUPVGHVFHQGIURPWKHIUDPHJLYLQJWKHOLTXLGWR

IRUWKLVSDSHUWRH[SRXQGWKHVHYHUDODVSHFWVRIWKH*UHDW
3\UDPLGWKDWLQGLFDWHWKDWLWZDVEXLOWWRUHSUHVHQWWKH

Figure 18.9.

YROFDQRDQGE\H[WHQVLRQWKHPRVWVDFUHGRIWKHVDFUHG

Plumed serpents (not to scale) at the Tlachihualtépetl. Top

PRXQWDLQVLQWKH&HQWUDO+LJKODQGVVRZHZLOOIRFXVRQO\WRERWWRP'HWDLORIWKHPXUDORQWKH-DJXDU3ODWIRUP

RQRQHIHDWXUHLWVOD\RXW&KDSXOLFLQWRV3ODWIRUP OHIWGHWDLOZLWKJUHHQIHDWKHU/ySH] $XVWLQ WKLV YROXPH  SUHVHQWV D PDVWHUO\right: volutes through which the red body of the serpent

GHVFULSWLRQ RI WKH 6DFUHG 0RXQWDLQ FRQFHSW LQ

XQGXODWHV VHFWLRQRI$OWDUZLWKSOXPHGVHUSHQWZULWKLQJ

0HVRDPHULFD$V KH H[SODLQV WKH PRXQWDLQ DQG LWV

through scrolls.
Figure 18.10.
At the center, the Tlachihualtépetl crowned by the Catholic
WHPSOHRIWKH³9LUJHQGHORV5HPHGLRV´3RSRFDWpSHWOLQ
the background on the left.

228

VXUURXQGLQJVZHUHIUHTXHQWO\UHSUHVHQWHGDVDTXLQFXQ[ DReferences

FRPSRVLWLRQRI¿YHHOHPHQWVRQHLQHDFKFRUQHUDQGRQHLQ%DQGHOLHU $   Report of an archaeological

WKHPLGGOHV\PEROL]LQJWKHFHQWHURIWKHHDUWK¶VVXUIDFHDQG

WRXULQ0H[LFRLQ$UFKDHRORJLFDO,QVWLWXWHRIWKHIRXUFDUGLQDOSRLQWVRUWKHIRXUFRUQHUVRIWKHZRUOG ,Q

$PHULFD 2ULJLQDOZRUNSXEOLVKHG

HYHU\VWDJHRIWKH7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO¶VVHTXHQFHHDFKRILWV

&RUWpV+   Cartas de relación.(GLWRULDO3RUU~D

IRXUIDFDGHVKDVDGL൵HUHQWPRUSKRORJ\DQGRUQDPHQWDWLRQ2ULJLQDOZRUNSXEOLVKHG 

DQGHDFKVKDUHVLWVSDUWLFXODUWUDLWVRQO\ZLWKWKHEXLOGLQJV

GH%HQDYHQWHR0RWROLQLD)7  Historia

DWWDFKHGWRLW$GGLQJWRWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOHWKHH[WHQVLRQVde los indios de la Nueva (VSDxD(GLWRULDO3RUU~D

SURMHFWLQJIURPHDFKIDFDGHWKHZKROHGHVLJQKDV¿YH

2ULJLQDOZRUNSXEOLVKHGFDFRPSRQHQWVDTXLQFXQ[OLNHIRUPDW ZHVWLOOQHHGWRPDSPDQ\RIWKHH[WHQVLRQVEXWWKLVOD\RXWLVDSSDUHQWLQ'HKRXYH '   $OWHSHWO (O OXJDU GHO SRGHU
$PHULFDH%DQGHOLHU¶VVNHWFK>VHH)LJXUH@ WKXVPDNLQJVHQVH

GHOD/X]/ &RQWUHUDV(  Proyecto Cholula.

RIWKHRVWHQVLEOHGLVWLQFWLRQVDPRQJWKHIRXUVLGHVRIWKH

7HPSRUDGD6HFFLyQGH7RSRJUDItDFRPSOH[VLQFHHDFKRQHZRXOGHSLWRPL]HDGL൵HUHQWZRUOG

>8QSXEOLVKHGPDQXVFULSW@$UFKLYR7pFQLFRGHO

GLUHFWLRQ,IWKHFHQWUDOPRGXOHZDVLQWHQGHGWRUHSUHVHQW,QVWLWXWR1DFLRQDOGH$QWURSRORJtDH+LVWRULD

WKH6DFUHG0RXQWDLQ3RSRFDWpSHWOWKHUHLVQRQHHGWRVHHN

GH 5RMDV *   'HVFULSFLyQ GH &KROXODDQRWKHUGLYLQHHQWLW\IRUWKHGHGLFDWLRQRIWKHPRQXPHQW

Revista Mexicana de Estudios Históricos I  

0RUHRYHU LI WKDW ZHUH WKH FDVH LW ZRXOG QRWRQO\ H[SODLQ WKH VWUDQJH PRUSKRORJ\ WKDW PDNHV WKH 2ULJLQDOZRUNSXEOLVKHG
'tD]GHO&DVWLOOR%  Historia verdadera de la

7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO VR XQOLNH DQ\ RWKHU 0HVRDPHULFDQconquista de la Nueva España.(GLWRULDO3RUU~D

S\UDPLGEXWLWZRXOGDOVRYLQGLFDWHWKHHQRUPRXVUHOLJLRXV 2ULJLQDOZRUNSXEOLVKHGDWWUDFWLRQWKDW&KROXODH[HUWHG(UHFWLQJS\UDPLGVWR+DUDUL < 1   6DSLHQV $ EULHI KLVWRU\ RI

UHSUHVHQWVDFUHGPRXQWDLQVZDVDGHHSO\URRWHGWUDGLWLRQKXPDQNLQG >H%RRN HGLWLRQ@ +DUSHU&ROOLQVLQ0HVRDPHULFDEXW&KROXODZHQWEH\RQGWKDWQRWRQO\/HyQ3RUWLOOD 0   Aztec thought and culture

FUHDWLQJLQWKHEXLOWODQGVFDSHDFRORVVDOUHSURGXFWLRQRI-('DYLV7UDQV 8QLYHUVLW\RI2NODKRPD3UHVVWKHLPSUHVVLYHYROFDQREXWVXFFHVVIXOO\LQFRUSRUDWLQJWR

2ULJLQDOZRUNSXEOLVKHG

LWDSHFXOLDUDUFKLWHFWXUDODUUDQJHPHQWWRRVWHQWDWLRXVO\/ySH]$XVWLQ$  /DFRQFHSFLyQPHVRDPHULFDQD

GHFODUH WKDW WKHUH ZDV WKH FHQWHU RI WKH FRVPRV$V

del Monte Sagrado, sus proyecciones y sus

LWV KLVWRU\ VKRZV WKLV ZDV D FRQYLQFLQJ VWDWHPHQWPDQLIHVWDFLRQHVDUTXLWHFWyQLFDV 7KLVYROXPH
0DUTXLQD, (G   Proyecto Cholula,QVWLWXWR
1DFLRQDOGH$QWURSRORJtDH+LVWRULD
0DUTXLQD,  3LUiPLGHGH&KROXOD,Q,0DUTXLQD
 (G 3UR\HFWR&KROXOD SS ,QVWLWXWR
1DFLRQDOGH$QWURSRORJtDH+LVWRULD
0DUTXLQD,  Arquitectura prehispánica,QVWLWXWR
1DFLRQDOGH$QWURSRORJtDH+LVWRULD

229

0RQWHV GH 2FD 0   /RV GLIUDVLVPRV XQ
UDVJR GHO OHQJXDMH ULWXDO Estudios de Cultura

Stories, poems, and prayers of the Aztecs. 6LPRQ

Náhuatl  

6FKXIWHU7RXFKVWRQH

3DQILO 0   The Late Holocene volcanic

8UXxXHOD *

 3OXQNHW 3   /D HYROXFLyQVWUDWLJUDSK\RIWKH7HWLPSDDUHDQRUWKHDVWÀDQN

GHO7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO(QOD]DQGRORKXPDQR\OR

of Popocatépetl Volcano, Central Mexico

GLYLQRHQHOGHVDUUROORGHODLGHQWLGDGGH&KROXOD,Q

>8QSXEOLVKHGPDVWHU¶VWKHVLV@3HQQV\OYDQLD6WDWH

5*DOOHJRV (5DPtUH] (GV  San Andrés

8QLYHUVLW\

Cholula, un encuentro del presente con su pasado

3OXQNHW3  (O3DWLRGHORV$OWDUHVHQOD*UDQ
3LUiPLGHGH&KROXOD/DYLROHQWDGHVWUXFFLyQGHORVtFRQRVArqueología Mexicana;;  
3OXQNHW 3(Vol. 2) SS 0LOHQLR'LDULR $\XQWDPLHQWR
GH6DQ$QGUpV&KROXOD
8UXxXHOD *

 3OXQNHW 3   ,QWHUZRYHQ 8UXxXHOD *   3UHFODVVLF

GLVFRXUVHV([SORULQJ&KROXODDQG7HRWLKXDFDQKRXVHKROGSDWWHUQVSUHVHUYHGXQGHUYROFDQLFDVKDW

LQWHUDFWLRQV,Q.*+LUWK'0&DUEDOOR %7HWLPSD3XHEODLatin American Antiquity   

$UUR\R (GV Teotihuacan: The world beyond the

city SS 'XPEDUWRQ2DNV5HVHDUFK3OXQNHW 3

 8UXxXHOD *   6RFLDO DQG/LEUDU\DQG&ROOHFWLRQFXOWXUDOFRQVHTXHQFHVRID/DWH+RORFHQHHUXSWLRQ

8UXxXHOD * 3OXQNHW 3

 5REOHV $  

LQ&HQWUDO0H[LFR4XDWHUQDU\,QWHUQDWLRQDO

1HZ HYLGHQFH RQ WKH EHJLQQLQJV RI WKH *UHDW

3\UDPLGRI&KROXOD,Q)6ROtV*8UXxXHOD3

3OXQNHW 3

 8UXxXHOD *   Cholula. El

3OXQNHW0&UX] '5RGUtJXH] (GV &KROXOD&ROHJLRGH0p[LFR )RQGRGH&XOWXUD(FRQyPLFD

7KH*UHDW3\UDPLG SS &21$&8/7$

5RGUtJXH]'  /DSLQWXUDPXUDOSUHKLVSiQLFD
GH&KROXOD,Q)6ROtV*8UXxXHOD33OXQNHW

,1$+ (GLWRULDO$]DEDFKH
8UXxXHOD * 3OXQNHW 3

 5REOHV $  

0&UX] '5RGUtJXH] (GV Cholula: The Great$UWDQGDUFKLWHFWXUHRIDQDUFKHW\SDOFLW\,Q:

Pyramid SS &21$&8/7$,1$+ / )DVK  / /ySH] /XMiQ (GV  The art of(GLWRULDO$]DEDFKH

urbanism: How Mesoamerican kingdoms

6DOD]DU3  Informe de los trabajos arqueológicos

represented themselves in architecture and imagery

realizados en la sección 2 correspondienteSS 'XPEDUWRQ2DNV5HVHDUFK/LEUDU\DO PHV GH IHEUHUR GH  >8QSXEOLVKHG

DQG&ROOHFWLRQPDQXVFULSW@ $UFKLYR 7pFQLFR GHO ,QVWLWXWR

8UXxXHOD * 3OXQNHW 3

1DFLRQDOGH$QWURSRORJtDH+LVWRULD
6ROtV )

230

6XOOLYDQ7' .QDE7-  A scattering of jades: 5REOHV $  %XLOGLQJ WKH 7ODFKLKXDOWpSHWO 7KH VRFLDO DQG

 9 9HODVTXH]   &KROXOD HQ ODVLGHRORJLFDOIRXQGDWLRQVRIWKH*UHDW3\UDPLGRI

FUyQLFDV\ORVFyGLFHVLQGtJHQDV,Q)6ROtV*&KROXOD0p[LFR,Q66XJL\DPD6.DEDWD7

8UXxXHOD33OXQNHW0&UX] '5RGUtJXH]

7DPLJXFKL(GV  Cholula: The Great Pyramid SS 

deconstructing and reconstructing social identity&21$&8/7$ ,1$+  (GLWRULDO$]DEDFKH

SS &XOWXUDO6\PELRVLV5HVHDUFK,QVWLWXWH ( 1LZD (GV  Constructing,$LFKL3UHIHFWXUDO8QLYHUVLW\
8UXxXHOD*DEULHOD 5REOHV$  /DVVXEHVWUXFWXUDVGHOD*UDQ3LUiPLGHGH&KROXOD9LHMRVW~QHOHVQXHYDWHFQRORJtDQXHYRVGDWRVArqueología
Mexicana XX  

$VWKHLQWHQWLRQRIWKLVSDSHUZDVWRLQWURGXFHWKH

WKHPHVZHDUHZRUNLQJRQWRWKHPHPEHUVRIWKH2XWRI(XUDVLDSURMHFWWKLVVHFWLRQLVDVLPSOL¿HGDVVHPEODJHRI
GDWDWKDWZHKDYHDOUHDG\SXEOLVKHGIRFXVLQJRQGLYHUVH
WRSLFV7KXVWRDYRLGUHSHWLWLYHVHOIFLWDWLRQVKHUHZH
SURYLGHWKHOLVWRIUHIHUHQFHVXVHGIRUWKLVFRPSLODWLRQLQVWHDGRILQGLYLGXDOO\FLWLQJWKHPLQHDFKFDVH

231