The Mexican flag features three vertical stripes, in green, white, and red, with the Mexican coat of arms in the center. The green stripe represents hope, the white stripe represents purity, and the red stripe represents the blood of Mexican heroes. The coat of arms features an eagle perched on a cactus, holding a serpent in its beak, which is said to represent the Aztec legend of the foundation of Tenochtitlán, the ancient capital of the Aztec empire.