National Museum of Anthropology

Entrance Courtyard to National Museum of Anthropology

The great thing about the St Regis is its location near Chapultepec Park and walking distance to the National Museum of Anthropology. It took us about a half an hour but we got to the Museum before the crowds.

Coatlicue

The Museum of Anthropology is the main museum of Mexico. It is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico. It contains significant archaeological artifacts from ancient Mexico's heritage.

The Museums collection includes the Stone of the Sun, very ancient stone Olmec heads from Tabasco and Vera Cruz.

On exhibit is Coatlicue, the Goddess of Life and Death. She was the patron of childbirth and also was the mother of Huitzilopochtli, Mexica god of war. The statue was found in the main plaza (Zocalo) of Mexico City in August 1790. The Sun Stone was also found later in the same year, 1790.

The Sun Stone

Xochipilli

Another Fantastic exhibit is the statue of Xochipilli. It was found at the base of the volcano Popocatepital in the 1800's. It is the figure of Xochipilli, Mexica (Aztec) god of art, games and dance. It appears to show him in an ecstatic, drug induced state. Hallucinogenic plants are carved all over the statue.

Olmeca - Xicalanca Cacaxtla Bird Man Fresco

Teotihuacan Wall Detail

The National Museum of Anthropology is a fascinating place to visit.

Highly recommended!

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