Mexica, gifts and gods at Templo Major: the Musée du Quai Branly exhibition unveiled

One of Central America's most fascinating civilizations, the Mexica empire (more commonly known as Aztec) flourished for two centuries, leaving behind an impressive culture and vestiges. The Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac reveals some of the secrets of this mysterious people, thanks to the exhibition Mexica, des dons et des dieux au Templo Major, presented from April 3 to September 8, 2024.

In 1978, Mexico City revealed a major surprise to archaeologists: in the city's subsoil lay the remains of a powerful and complex pre-Columbian civilization. Houses, temples, everyday objects and ritual artifacts... The ancient city of Tenochtitlan was gradually being revealed to researchers. This civilization quickly caught the interest of specialists and the general public alike, and a great deal of research was carried out to shed light on this people and its history. Today, the Mexica civilization is fairly well known... But it still hides many secrets.

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The Musée du Quai Branly invites us on a wonderful journey to discover this people and, above all, their culture. Art, beliefs and rituals, trade, architecture, relationship with nature and travel... This rich and sophisticated civilization is revealed through 500 sculptures, objets d'art and archaeological remains found in the vicinity of the sacred heart of the Mexica empire, the Templo Mayor, as well as through video devices specially designed for the exhibition.

A far cry from clichés, this exhibition provides a detailed insight into the Mexica civilization: the tour explains the development of this people, their belief system, their deities, the importance of animals and nature, and then the devastating encounter with the Spanish colonists in the 16th century. The final chapter also looks at the descendants of the Mexica people, the modern-day natives who keep alive the traditions and rites of their ancestors.

Please note, however, that this exhibition is aimed at a mature, well-informed public. The chapter on offerings to the gods refers to human sacrifices, and features human and animal skeletons and skulls on display.

Ready for such a journey? Get your passports ready, the Musée du Quai Branly is waiting for you!