Letters from Mexico: Museum of Anthropology

Hello!

So, last weekend we went to Chapultepec, which is a big park with the Museum of Anthropology in it. First of all, just when we arrived, we could see the voladores - one of the typical attractions in Mexico. There are 4 people climbing on a 30m tall pole and come down attached to a rope circling around and around. This is said to be an ancient ritual asking for good weather or something. Anyway, it was very spectacular with the colorful dresses and music.

After the show, we took our way to the museum. The entrance fee is around 50 pesos (350 JPY!!!) which compared to the contents of the museum, is ridiculous.

After the entrance, you get to a huge square outside where there is a fountain with a column carved with Mexican symbols. Around this square are the 12 halls that introduces the different periods and cultures of the Mexican history.

It starts with the evolution of the human - I could see there skulls of the australopithecus, things I`ve only seen in school books!

After one or two halls, the "real" Mexican history starts - there were many many tribes and cultures over the centuries here: the first tribes are known to have come here from Asia, were around b.c. 20,000. The first civilization was the Olmecs (around b.c 1500), followed by the Mayas from cc. b.c 500 till cc. a.c 900 (they have founded the Monte Alban settlement).

During this period, there were other nations/tribes coming to Mexico, as well: Teotihuacan was founded in b.c 200, but nobody knows who founded it. Teotihuacan is very convenient, because it is only one hour ride from the City, so you can have a nice tour seeing ancient pyramids when you`re visiting. After the Mayas, came the Toltecs, who founded Tula. The Aztecs coming after them, in around the 14th century. The capital of the Aztecs was Tenochtitlan, the heart of Mexico City today. (Unfortunately, most of the buildings were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors, but it is interesting to know, that the ancient main square (known today as Zocalo) has remained in its origin role.)

The museum leads us toward these civilizations and cultures over the time, and finally introduces the cultures of the current 56 (or 7) tribes living today in Mexico. (For this, we didn`t have time.) :(

Of course, the biggest halls are the Aztec and Maya. It was amazing to see these huge stone sculptures! My biggest surprise was that many of the sculptures were displayed without any protection as glass cages, so you could touch it, feel it. (The smaller things and the (I guess) more expensive ones are protected of course). I was also amazed of the quantity of the exhibits: even by the 5% of it, it would be a huge exhibition in Hungary.

By one word, I was again amazed by this country`s rich and colorful history. Can`t wait to explore myself! :)