The Most Famed Architecure Structures of Aztec Culture
In this article I am going to discuss the architecture of Aztec culture. I decided to examine this topic due to an obvious fact - structures and buildings made by Aztecs are still famous nowadays. That is why, in my opinion, it is needed to show up more information about this ancient culture.
Malinalco
Malinalco is a city situated in the east side of the city of Mexico, south of the cutting edge city of Toluca . Malinalco is best known for its stone cut sanctuaries and for being a fortification city of the Aztecs. Called the Eagle's Nest (Cuauhtinchan) by the Aztecs, it filled military-religious society needs and was the central station for the Eagle and Jaguar Knights, the Aztec military standings of renowned warriors. Malinalco was a key area, enabling the Aztecs to control the Valley of Toluca (Matlatzinca district), northern Guerrero and the Tlahuica locale. The sanctuaries of Malinalco are normally depicted as model sanctuaries or sculptural design. They were cut on a slanting slope, situated southeast for ceremonial purposes. As indicated by the Aztecs, Malinalco was a standout amongst the most imperative engineering destinations due to its relationship to Aztec religious history and for its military nature. Malinalco is where the three dimensions of the Cosmos join together: the sky, the earth, and the black market.
Sanctuary I
The real structure of Malinalco is a sanctuary called the cuauhcalli, which implies the place of the eagles. The indirect cuauhcalli pyramidal base and a balustraded staircase is a stone cut structure cut in the mountainside and is situated south. It has two bodies in talud, with one superimposed on the other with a statue of four meters. The staircase, arranged in the front façade of the building, is two meters wide and has 13 stages. The staircase has two balustrades with changing inclinations at the best, each winding up for all intents and purposes vertical. On the left and right sides of the stairs, two crouching jaguars are found. On the fourth and seventh steps, there are remains of a damaged model of a sitting standard (pantli) conveyor. At the most highest point of the stairs, there is a low stage that filled in as a vestibule for the sanctum of the haven. The stage floor has a rectangular opening that is adequate to have had an introduced conciliatory stone. Three-dimensional figures of a snake head with an Eagle Knight sitting to finish everything (east side) and a vertical drum (huehuetl) anchored with ocelot (panther) skin surmounted with remains of a Jaguar Knight on the west side, flank the portal. The entryway of the special stepped area is mouth of a snake, with teeth on each side and a bifid tongue scratched on the floor. This trademark makes the Cuauhcalli, to be a buckle sanctuary, the way to the stomach of the earth. Within structure has a painted, raised edge cut from shake which seeks after the circuitous state of the divider. The east and west sides have models of level hawks and the north side has a comprehensive puma. The models were zoomorphic places of power. The widely inclusive puma was used by the ruler and the falcons by his great officers. In the point of convergence of the holy place, there is a model of a bird of prey going up against the entrway. Behind the hawk, there is a circuitous opening, It is believed that it was a vault (cuauhxicalli) for the hearts of yielded tragic losses that filled in as commitments that were required to keep up the improvement of the Sun and human bond.
Sanctuary II
Sanctuary II is a truncated pyramid that is found a couple of feet southeast of Temple I. It has a squared floor plan and a staircase on the west side of the façade. The balustrades were developed with cut stones and were worked with stucco mortar. Raised area carvings and a stage were joined into the building. The building is united, yet it demonstrates a condition of disintegration.
Sanctuary III
Sanctuary III was utilized to praise the funerals of warriors who kicked the bucket in war or imprisonment furthermore, were deserving of going to Tonatiuh Ilhuicac (the heaven of the Sun). The shake cut structure holds two chambers, a round and a rectangular one. The eastern bit of the building faces south and is a piece of a characteristic slant (talud) of the mountain. It is built of stone joined with soil and lime mortar. The sanctuary's passage comprises of three entryways that are isolated by two segments. The rectangular chamber has a fire pit amidst the room. The room contains a seat that goes through the east, west, and north sides. It is hindered at the focal point of the north side and offers access to the round load. The rectangular chamber initially had a wall painting that spoken to the mimixcoua, the worshipped falcon and puma warriors who lived in the Heaven of the Sun. Tragically, this painting no longer exists.
Conclusion
In general, to understand Aztec architecture it is needed to know the symbolizm of their culture. Aztec symbols were a component of material culture in which the ancient society expressed the understanding of the corporeal and immaterial world. The Aztecs also used symbols to express perceptions and experiences of reality. The Aztec architecture was simple and elegant, bold and powerful, and it mixed colors and symbols that helped create a unique style. Aztec architecture relied heavily on cosmology, astronomy, and religion, their massive cities reflected their beliefs and it’s an important key in understanding their history and culture, and how this affects their buildings and constructions. Of course, as we mentioned earlier the most dominant pieces of architecture are the temples of the Aztecs. These temples perfectly represent how the Aztec architecture is powered by their desire to sacrifice to their gods and their religion and beliefs and it is a solid proof of how Aztecs cared of symbols and expressions.
