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Market scene in pre-Columbian Tlatelolco
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Market scene in pre-Columbian Tlatelolco
A market scene in the city state of Tlatelolco before the Spanish invasion. Various Mexica people crowd around market vendors in a colonnade selling wares such as pottery, animals skins, livestock, and cloth. Several people sit by a column to rest. A man walks forward carrying a dead pig, holding hands with a boy carrying a parrot. Date: circa 1500
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Media ID 23088234
© Mary Evans Picture Library
Cloth Colonnade Dead Forward Invasion Livestock Mexica Pottery Rest Selling Skins Vendors Walks Wares
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the bustling energy of the pre-Columbian marketplace in the city-state of Tlatelolco, located just north of Tenochtitlan in what is now Mexico City. Circa 1500, the scene is filled with Mexica people, the indigenous inhabitants of the region, who have gathered to buy and sell a variety of goods. The colonnade, with its elegant arches, provides shelter from the sun and rain, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Vendors display their wares with pride, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Mexica people. Pottery, intricately decorated with geometric patterns and figurative designs, is stacked high on tables. Animal skins, fresh and supple, are laid out for inspection, while livestock, such as turkeys and pigs, are tethered nearby. Cloth, dyed in brilliant hues, is draped over wooden racks, glinting in the sunlight. Amidst the crowd, several people take a moment to rest, sitting on the base of a column. The marketplace is not just a place of commerce, but also a social hub, where people come together to connect and exchange news and gossip. A man in a flowing tunic and feather headdress walks forward, carrying a dead pig under his arm. In his other hand, he holds the hand of a young boy, who proudly cradles a parrot. The juxtaposition of the dead pig and the living bird highlights the interconnectedness of life and death in the Mexica culture. This market scene in Tlatelolco offers a glimpse into the rich and complex world of the pre-Columbian Mexica people, a world that would soon be forever changed by the Spanish invasion.
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