Remember the name San Andrés Tetepilco. It is one of the 15 original settlements of Iztapalapa. Today, we explore its fascinating history.
San Andrés Tetepilco sits on the western edge of the Iztapalapa borough. It borders Benito Juárez and Iztacalco. The Nahuatl name Tetepilco means “stone carved in the nature of a woman.”
This island was inhabited by people related to those of Culhuacan. San Andrés Tetepilco appears in ancient codices and maps of Mexico City. It is visible on the 1521 map.
The San Andrés Tetepilco temple has an interesting history. The Franciscans started its construction in 1566. Later, the Augustinians completed it.
But there is so much more to know about San Andrés Tetepilco. Archaeologists discovered ancient Aztec codices here. These Codices of San Andrés Tetepilco date from the late 16th to early 17th century. Experts believe they continue the Boturini Codex.
The codices depict the transition from pre-Hispanic Mexica to Spanish rule. Hernán Cortés appears dressed as a Roman centurion. Another scene shows Izcóatl, the fourth king of Tenochtitlan. He was the founder of the Aztec Empire.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History acquired the codices. They paid 9.5 million pesos for them. The codices were made on amate. Amate is a type of bark paper. They used gesso and cochineal extract. The inks came from plants, charcoal, indigo, and ochre.
The Codices of San Andrés Tetepilco detail important events. They describe the founding of Tetepilco. They also inventory an unnamed church. Moreover, they show the transition and conquest by Hernán Cortés. The codices were acquired from a family in Culhuacan and Iztapalapa.
Historian María Castañeda de Paz first documented them in 2009. The family who owned them were considered traditional stewards. After negotiations, the Mexican government acquired them.
There are three codices. Much of them are damaged and incomplete. The Map of the Founding of Tetepilco shows markers for important places. These include Colhuacan, Tetepilco, Tepanohuayan, and others.
The Inventory of the Church of San Andrés Tetepilco is heavily damaged. Only two pages remain. The Tira of San Andrés Tetepilco depicts the history of Tenochtitlan. It starts with a founding date of 1300. It includes the conquest of Tetepilco. The history extends past the Spanish conquest to 1611.
The texts are bilingual. They are written in Spanish and Romanized Nahuatl. The dyes and inks are made of plants, charcoal, and indigo.
The acquisition of the codices is significant. The National Institute of Anthropology and History calls it the most important authentication. It is the most important since the Maya Codex of Mexico. These documents add to the collection of the Biblioteca Nacional de Antropología e Historia.
The “Tira de Tetepilco” is especially important. It recounts the history of Tenochtitlan through four themes. These are the city’s foundation, the lineage of rulers, the arrival of the Spanish, and the colonial period.
The documents are “mixed codices.” They blend indigenous paintings and texts. Though now part of urban sprawl, San Andrés Tetepilco was once under the jurisdiction of Iztacalco.
The San Andrés Tetepilco Codices bridge the past and present. They enrich our understanding of Mesoamerican history. These treasures help us appreciate the rich cultural heritage of Mexico.