Coyolxauhqui Stone

The massive circular relief was discovered by accident on February 21, 1978, when workers from the Mexico City electric company were digging a trench. This incredible discovery led to the massive excavation of the Templo Mayor archaeological site in the heart of Mexico City.

The Coyolxauhqui Stone is a large monolithic relief carving made from a single block of basalt. It measures over 10 feet in diameter and vividly depicts the dismembered body of the Mexica moon goddess.

The original stone is the centerpiece of the Templo Mayor Museum, located near the Zócalo in Mexico City. It is displayed at the exact spot where it was found at the base of the ancient Aztec pyramid.

The carving illustrates the Aztec myth of Coyolxauhqui, the daughter of Coatlicue, who plotted to murder her mother after she miraculously became pregnant. The Aztec patron god Huitzilopochtli emerged from the womb fully armed, decapitated his sister, and threw her body down the mountain, dismembering her.