MEXICO CITY (AP) — The emblematic eagle perched on a cactus while devouring a serpent featured on Mexico's flag signifies the mythological origins of the nation's capital. This imagery is deeply rooted in an ancient legend wherein the god Huitzilopochtli instructed the Mexica, the founders of what would become the Aztec Empire, to leave their homeland in search of a new city. It took approximately 175 years for the Mexica to identify this sacred sign and establish Tenochtitlan in 1325, which stands as present-day Mexico City.
A new exhibition titled “A coat of arms, an emblem, a symbol of identity” is currently on display at the Old City Hall in downtown Mexico City as part of the government’s activities commemorating the 700th anniversary of the founding of the Mexica capital. The exhibit explores the history of how the eagle, cactus, and serpent became enduring symbols, with a focus on their survival through the era of European conquest.
President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the importance of recognizing Tenochtitlan not as a relic of the past but as a vital part of the cultural heartbeat that continues to resonate beneath the modern city. During an official ceremony in July, she stated, “It was the center of an Indigenous world that built its own model of civilization — one in harmony with the Earth, the stars, and its gods and goddesses.”
Located beneath the Old City Hall are remnants of this ancient civilization. The building, commissioned by Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés in 1522, utilized stones sourced from ancient Mexica sacred sites. Over time, it has undergone various renovations, yet its halls have witnessed centuries of governance and the evolution of symbolic representation.
During the exhibit’s inauguration in November, Mariana Gómez Godoy, Director of Mexico City’s Cultural Heritage, emphasized that holding this exhibition in City Hall serves as an acknowledgment of the history of those who once inhabited the site. The Mexica documented their own origins after the fall of Tenochtitlan to European powers, preserved in various codices that narrate the divine mission bestowed upon them.
Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, an esteemed archaeologist with Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History, posits that the legend of Huitzilopochtli offers a symbolic retelling of historical events rather than a literal prophecy. Nonetheless, the pre-Hispanic communities preserved this foundational mythology as a cornerstone of their traditions.
The exhibition presents a historical account of the evolution of the emblem from its designation as the city’s coat of arms in 1523 under Emperor Charles V to its depiction as a national symbol of an independent Mexico. Curated by Guadalupe Lozada, the display showcases images of the emblem adopted by religious orders tasked with converting Indigenous populations to Catholicism. The early adoption of the eagle and cactus occurred during the mid-16th century, with the Jesuits later incorporating the serpent into the imagery. As a result, the emblem solidified itself within the identity of the city and proliferated throughout New Spain.
Lozada noted that numerous monasteries from the 17th century demonstrate how missionaries incorporated the eagle and cactus into their religious sanctuaries. This emblematic representation can still be observed today on the façade of Mexico City's cathedral and within one of its chapels. “The strength of Mexica culture was such that the evangelizers sought to adopt it rather than exclude it,” she remarked. “It was like saying, ‘I acknowledge your history.’”
Interestingly, the European conquerors, despite ordering the dismantling of Mexica religious complexes, did not erase the representation of their foundational myth. “For them, conquering Tenochtitlan was a matter of pride, and they never intended to deny its existence,” Lozada explained. “This indicates that the strength of the ancient city remains buried yet is still reflective in the identity of the new urban landscape.”
