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What did noble/elite houses look like in the Aztec Empire?

What did noble/elite houses look like in the Aztec Empire?

Artist’s impression of an Aztec noble’s house

ORIGINAL QUESTION received from - and thanks to - Marcus: Is there any way to know what noble/elite houses looked like in the Aztec Empire? Are there any remaining examples? (Answered by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)

Thanks for writing to us. No, there aren’t any remaining examples, only foundations at best.
We feel we can’t do better than to quote from probably the world’s leading archaeologist on Aztec life, Michael E. Smith, from his (recommended) book At Home with the Aztecs, where he writes, referring to his field work at Cuexcomate, an Aztec site near present-day Cuernavaca:-
’Features of the Aztec nobility were borne out in the architecture of [the élite compound at] Cuexcomate. This compound differed tremendously from the mass of commoner houses at the site. Instead of small, rectangular buildings constructed at the level of the ground, [the compound] consisted of a series of connected platforms arranged around a central patio with a single entrance (pic 1). Stone foundations for rooms sat on top of the platforms. The stonework included many cut stones instead of the river cobbles used in commoner houses, and the floors and walls were covered with white lime plaster.’
The artist’s illustration by Felipe Dávalos (main picture) gives a very good impression - Dávalos is a renowned Mexican illustrator who takes great care to research his material...

Source/reference:-
• Smith, Michael E. (2016) At Home with the Aztecs: an archaeologist discovers their daily life, Routledge, London.

Picture sources:-
• Main: illustration by and courtesy of Felipe Dávalos
• Pic 1: drawing by Kagan McCleod, scanned from Smith, op cit, p. 53.

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What did noble/elite houses look like in the Aztec Empire?

Artist’s impression of an Aztec noble’s house

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