Santa Cecilia Acatitlan

Welcome, students of history, to the archaeological zone of Santa Cecilia Acatitlan, nestled here within the bustling modern municipality of Tlalnepantla de Baz in the State of Mexico. The ancient Nahuatl name, Acatitlan,…

Before we approach the stones, let us dwell on the monumental figure of Xolotl. Historical chronicles, such as those by Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl and the beautifully illustrated Codex Xolotl, paint him as a visionary…

Turn your gaze now to the centerpiece of our visit: the great stepped pyramid. What you see before you is a highly significant, albeit controversial, archaeological reconstruction. …

Position yourself at the base of the grand staircases and face the pyramid directly. Note your geographical orientation. …

As you examine the rough volcanic stone of the pyramid today, I must ask you to employ your imagination to restore its original glory. In antiquity, you would not have seen a single bare rock. …

Let us walk along the northern and southern flanks of the pyramid base. Though less prominent here than at the sister site of Tenayuca, we must discuss the concept of the Coatepantli, the 'wall of serpents.' These sites were…

Turn your back to the pyramid and face the plaza. Standing directly opposite the ancient temple is the 16th-century colonial church of San Bartolome. …

As our tour of Santa Cecilia Acatitlan concludes, let us take a final moment to absorb the layered history of this sacred precinct. We have traced the journey of the nomadic Chichimeca, led by the visionary Xolotl, as they merged…