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Animals Native to Tenochtitlán
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Description
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Upon scanning through the Uppsala Map, it becomes extremely evident how important animals were to the Aztec population of Tenochtitlàn, or modern-day Mexico City. An example of this can be observed in the inclusion of the Xoloitzcuintli, a hairless dog native to Latin America and named after the Aztec god of death, Xolotl. The Xoloitzcuintli dog was regarded as sacred by the Aztecs and was often sacrificed and buried with its owners to guide their soul through the underworld. Their importance to the indigenous population is further exuded by their frequent presence in the Aztec’s ceramic art. Following the arrival of the Spanish, the breed was near extinction in the 18th century, but managed to survive. Another animal frequently shown dispersed throughout the rivers of the map are fish, which were a staple to the Aztec diet. Multiple images of the indigenous population on canoes hunting for the aquatic source of protein are detailed, with a far larger number of fishermen than fish present on the map, which may be in conjecture with the large amount of waterfowl present. Frequently utilized for their bright and colorful plumage, birds were captured and then taken care of, with Aztec emperor, Moctezuma possessing multiple species inside his palace zoo. However, birds of prey, such as the Golden Eagle, shown in multiple regions of the Uppsala Map, were especially significant, with the Aztec’s ancient history detailing that “The sight of an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus signaled to the wandering Aztecs that they had arrived at the place (Tenochtitlàn) that would become their capital” (Bassett). Similar to the Xoloitzcuintli, golden eagles were also sacrificed for sacred burials and ceremonies, but rather than their feathers being harvested for adornment, they themselves were adorned in elaborate jewelry. Moctezuma also used images of the Golden Eagle to adorn Tenochtitlàn, with Don Antonio de Solis noting “…Over the gate in a large shield, were seen the arms of Moctezuma, a Griffin, half eagle, half Lion, with the Wings extended for Flight…”, thus explaining its incorporation into the Uppsala Map.
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Of the different Pleasure-Houses which Motezuma had for his Recreation: His Armories, Gardens, and Country Retirements; with other remarkable Buildings, both within and without the City