Golden eagle bas relief

Golden eagle bas relief, Aztec, c. 1300-1521 CE, andesite, length 28 cm., British Museum.

For the Aztecs the eagle was the preeminent symbol for the sun. The Náhuatl terms for ascending and descending eagle referred to the rising and setting of the sun. The eagle was identified with human sacrifice, and also symbolised one of the two main military orders dedicated to the sun Mexico Gallery caption, British Museum.

Photo by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore.