Today, Mexico City is the largest city on earth that is not on a river or a sea. According to a legend of the Aztec Indians, an eagle was responsible for selecting the site of the city. The eagle was seen landing on a cactus on a marshy island in Lake Texcoco, and the Aztecs took that as a sign to build their capital there.
That capital, called Tenochtitlan, was one of the oldest cities in the New World. Founded around 1300, it was a flourishing city of thousands of people when Spanish explorers conquered Mexico in the sixteenth century.
The city had a large network of canals that have since disappeared. Mexico City grew up around Tenochtitlan, and the city’s main cathedral now rests nearly on the site of the main Aztec temple!
The legend of the founding of Mexico’s greatest city is recalled by the flag of Mexico, which bears an eagle perched on top of a cactus.
Related Posts
-
How Was Tenochtitlan Founded and How Did the Aztecs Find the Eagle Perched On a Prickly Pear Cactus?
Long before the Aztec people founded their great empire, they lived in a community of many tribes in a place called Chicomortoc, also known as Seven Caves. But the people grew restless and…
-
What is the Place of the Cactus and Where did the Cactus on the Mexican flag come from?
According to the Aztec legend, the god Huitzilopochtli led the Aztec to the place where Tenochtitlan would be built. At the site, they found an eagle seated on a cactus holding a serpent…
-
Who Designed the Canadian Flag In 1964 and Is the Flag of Canada Red or White In Color?
The Canadian flag is red in color. On February 15, 1965, when Canada's new flag became official and flew over the country for the first time, the ceremonious proclamation read: "A red flag…
-
Is the Eagle Really “Eagle-Eyed”?
Almost all birds have keen vision, and birds of prey have the keenest vision of all. These birds cruise through the air looking for worms, small animals, or other birds on the ground,…
-
What is a Double Eagle in Golf and When was the First Double Eagle Gold Coin Minted?
Double eagle is a term used to denote three under par. This was once called an "albatross," and in some circles it still is. An eagle is two under par; a birdie is…
-
Why was the Bear Flag Republic formed and When did John C. Fremont led a revolt against Mexico?
During the Mexican War, American explorer John C. Fremont (1813-1890) led a revolt against Mexico in Sonoma, California. With no support from the rest of the province, Fremont and other American settlers declared…
