A painted map of Tenochtitlán (what is now Mexico City) it used to be a man made island built in Lake Texcoco by the Aztecs. Museum of Anthropology

---

Mexico City is located in a valley that was inhabited by several indigenous groups from 100 to 900 During the Aztec period, Mexico City was initially built over a lake, the Lago de Texcoco. Aztecs built an artificial island by dumping soil into the lagoon. Later, the Spaniards erected a second Mexico City atop the ruins of Tenochtitlán. Teotihuacán was founded in 1325 by the Mexicas. Its development fulfilled one of their ancient prophecies: The Mexicas believed that their god would show them where to build a great city by providing a sign, an eagle eating a snake while perched atop a cactus. When the Mexicas (who would later be known as the Aztecs) saw the vision come true on an island in Lake Texcoco, they decided to build a city there. Source:

---

Size: 5530px × 3728px
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Photo credit: © Ida Pap / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ancient, anthropology, aztec, aztecs, capital, cdmx, city, country, cultural, editorial, empire, female, geography, hand, historic, historical, history, indoor, interior, island, lake, map, mesoamerica, mexica, mexica-tenochtitlan, mexican, mexicas, mexico, museum, myth, mythology, national, painted, pre-columbian, rm, sight, state, tenochtitlá, texcoco, tourist, touristic, wp