Tovar Codex, Battle of Coyoac gn, 15th Century

Entitled: Guerra contra Cuyuascan. Battle of Coyoacan. Soldiers fighting with war clubs and shields before a burning temple. The chief soldier wears a feathered or quetzal headdress. Some scholar believe this may be ecollotzin. In the pre-Hispanic period, CoyoacCgn was originally an independent dominion or altepetl. Its people were Tecpanecas, who were farmers and stoneworkers specializing in the volcanic stone from the old lava flow of Xitle. It had been a Tepaneca dominion for 300 years until the Aztecs took over in the 15th century. Famous rulers were Maxtla and his son Tecollotzin. The Tovar Codex (16th century) contains detailed information about the rites and ceremonies of the Aztecs. The codex is illustrated with 51 full-page paintings in watercolor. Illustration taken from a 19th century transcript of Juan de Tovar's Historia de la benida de los yndios apoblar a Mexico (the Codex Tovar)

Picture No

12696082

Media ID

47670035

Size

4425px x 3146px (2.7MB)

Credit

LOC/Jay I. Kislak Collection/Science Source/Mary Evans