#Archaeology #AncientMexico #History

The “Temple of the Niches” in the archaeological zone of “El Tajín”, in the State of #Veracruz, is a unique structure with 365 niches on 7 tiers which represent the solar calendar.

The temple was erected between 1100 and 1150 and was originally painted red.

At least 17 ball courts (for the #Mesoamerican ballgame) have been found in “El Tajín”, which sheds light to the importance of the city in ancient #Mexico

#History #AncientMexico

There were no horses in prehispanic #Mexico , but the Mexica (“ #Aztec ”) Empire (1428-1521 AD) had a network of “painani”, elite relay runners, who could convey messages and deliver goods. The painani would run a distance of almost 400 kms. to bring the first catch of the morning from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City), through high mountain ranges, so the Huēi Tlahtoāni (great speaker or Emperor) could eat fresh fish every day.