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Storm causes structure over Aztec ruins to collapse in Mexico City

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Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/04/29/earth-day-mexico-water.jpg"/><figcaption>A view of the city and Diego Rivera&#x27;s fountain of the Aztec rain god Tlaloc, part of an old municipal water system station, in Mexico City, Mexico April 22, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. <em>Carlos Jasso, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MEXICO CITY - A roof that partly protected one of Mexico&#x27;s most important ancient sites collapsed under the weight of a major rain and hail storm late on Wednesday, causing minor damage to the ornate temple complex that once hosted the Aztec empire&#x27;s elite warriors.</p><p>President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledged on Thursday to repair any damages to the House of Eagles, which was covered by a large metal roof of modern construction that was toppled by the storm. The structure is adjacent to the ruins of the Aztec holiest shrine, today known as the Templo Mayor.</p><p>Mexico&#x27;s culture ministry described damage to the ruins as &quot;minor, recoverable and restorable&quot; in a statement on Thursday, adding that removal of the collapsed roof and other repairs will begin immediately.</p><p>The House of Eagles features elaborately carved relief sculptures along its walls and benches, depicting warriors in procession and blood-letting rituals. Remnants of its painted murals have remained visible five centuries after the 1521 Spanish conquest of the Aztec capital and subsequent razing of the city.</p><p>In a post on Twitter, Leonardo Lopez Lujan, the Templo Mayor&#x27;s lead archeologist, wrote that he was relieved that major damage to the interior of the structure and its decorations was avoided.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m not superstitious, but blessed be Tezcatlipoca!&quot; he quipped, referring to a major Aztec deity associated with providence and sorcery.</p><p>The ruins of the Templo Mayor, which the Aztecs believed to be the center of the universe, are located just off Mexico City&#x27;s main Zocalo plaza, next to a colonial-era Roman Catholic cathedral.</p><p>The open-air ruins, along with an adjacent museum that houses monumental sculptures found at the site, have for decades been a major downtown tourist draw.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/07/02/17/tower-of-human-skulls-in-mexico-casts-new-light-on-aztecs">Tower of human skulls in Mexico casts new light on Aztecs</a></li></ul><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1674701" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>MEXICO CITY - A roof that partly protected one of Mexico's most important ancient sites collapsed under the weight of a major rain and hail storm late on Wednesday, causing minor damage to the ornate temple complex that once hosted the Aztec empire's elite warriors.</p>

MEXICO CITY - A roof that partly protected one of Mexico's most important ancient sites collapsed under the weight of a major rain and hail storm late on Wednesday, causing minor damage to the ornate temple complex that once hosted the Aztec empire's elite warriors.