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General Aztecs Tocuaro Kids Contact 8 Sep 2010/1 Snake
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Mexica (Aztec) stone statue of Xiuhtecuhtli

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Have you met Tec yet?

Dr. Alfredo López Austin

Who was the first archaeologist to find out about the Aztecs? asked Little Ealing Primary School. Read what Dr. Alfredo López Austin had to say.

Mexican stamps

Pre-Hispanic - POST-Hispanic ...

A selection of Mexican postage stamps celebrating Aztec themes. (Written/compiled by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)

Mexican stamp set from 1956
Mexican stamp set from 1956 (Click on image to enlarge)

Over the years (these date from the 1980s onwards) the Mexican postal service has included several pre-Hispanic motifs in its stamps. Almost all these are Aztec motifs, but one isn’t: can you spot it? You can see a larger version by clicking on the image. Once you’ve worked out the answer then go to the bottom of the page and click to see if you’re correct.

A priest using a fire drill
A priest using a fire drill

Above left is a set of Mexican stamps from 1956, commemorating the first Mexican postage stamp in 1856. The central image shows a priest using a fire drill to kindle flames – very similar to this illustration from the Codex Laud (now in Oxford).

A Mexican coin
A Mexican coin

Don’t forget that on the back of every Mexican coin you’ll always find the Mexican national emblem; as Graciela says “It’s a lovely way to remind ourselves, every day, of our ancestors, that we’re very proud of.”

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