46 • The deaTh of azTec TenochTiTLan, The Life of mexico ciTy
down its front. At the top of the sculpture’s “stairs” is the
image of the sun, flanked by two figures who also engage
in ritual bloodletting (figure 2.13). To the upper right of the
solar orb is a teuctli (“lord”) glyph (a miter-like headdress).
Umberger identifies this as the name glyph of the ruler
Moteuczoma II (r. 1502–1520), establishing his patron-
age. 64 Recently, William Barnes has suggested that the
throne was carved also to resemble the upright stone upon
which sacrifices were carried out. 65
None of the scholars’ arguments about the Teocalli of
Sacred Warfare focused on the back face of the monu-
ment, perhaps because in contrast to the complicated and
often obscure imagery on the front and lateral sides of
the sculpture, the image on the reverse face of the throne
seems absolutely straightforward (figures 2.14 and 2.15). It
illustrates the history of the foundation of Tenochtitlan,
which we encountered on folio 2r of the Codex MendozafiguRe 2.13. Unknown creator, Teocalli of Sacred Warfare, also known
as Moteuczoma’s Throne, oblique view, ca. 1507. Museo Nacional de
Antropología, Mexico City. Archivo Digitalización de las Colecciones
Arqueológicas del Museo Nacional de Antropología. cOnacULTa-
inaH-canOn. Reproduction authorized by the Instituto Nacional de
Antropología e Historia.