The Massacre in the Great Temple, also called the Toxcatl Massacre, or the Alvarado Massacre, was an event on 22 May 1520, in the Mexica, also known as the Aztec, capital of Tenochtitlan during the Sp
Painting depicting the Massacre in the Great Temple
Templo Mayor
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The Templo Mayor was the main temple of the Mexica people in their capital city of Tenōchtitlan, which is now Mexico City. Its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica
Massacre in the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan
…against the Spaniards. After the festivities had started, Alvarado turned on the Mexica, killing performers, spectators, and nobles celebrating inside Tenochtitlan's Great Temple. According to Mexica accounts, the Spanish blocked all exits and charged ferociously at the celebrants, killing indiscriminately. Spanish accounts of…
Aerial image of the Templo Mayor
View of the Templo Mayor and the surrounding buildings.
Disk depicting a dismembered Coyolxauhqui which was found during construction in 1978
Scale model of the Templo Mayor of Tenōchtitlan showing the various stages as it was enlarged over time.