| Note: | K08 |
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|---|---|---|
| Object Name: | Church of Santiago Tlatelolco | |
| Creation Date: | ||
| Culture: | Colonial Mexican | |
| Location: | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Repository: | ||
| Image source: | © Dr. Manuel Aguilar | |
| TLATELOLCO (Monticulo de Arena: Round Mound of Earth). Mexico, D.F. Tlatelolco was a very traditional and prestigious quarter of the city of Tenochtitlan that had a colorful and spectacular tiatiguis (market), the largest on the American continent. During the dramatic last days of the siege of Tenochtitlan, Tlatelolco was fiercely defended by its youthful prince and last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtemoc. The great temple was set on fire, and thousands upon thousands of dead bodies were left scattered about. In the end, Tlatelolco fell and Cuauhtemoc was captured, thereby ending the War of Conquest on August 13th of 1521. A sign in the square today honors the memory of the brave Cuauhtemoc and the tenacious Mexica defenders. Ironically, in this same place, the Mexican Army perpetrated the famous blood bath called the "Night of Tlatelolco" on October 2nd of 1968, where hundreds of students and demonstrators against governmental policies were killed. | ||
