Detail of a printed book shows a fold-out illustration of stones outside of a buildings facade.
Detail from a printed book shows an illustration of a person lying on the floor being attacked by a large bird next to a diagram of a pyramid.
Detail from a printed book shows text in Spanish reading "Descripcion de Xochicalco."

Descripcion de las antiguedades de Xochicalco

Jose Antonio de Alzate y Ramirez
1791

Alzate’s description of Xochicalco is a pioneering study of the ancient civilizations of Mexico, and a stunning narration of Mexican history. It is especially important because of the elaborate plates that were included by Alzate at his own expense, detailing the ruins in visual form. He was interested in preserving the memory of the ancient Mexicans and their antiquities, and to publish them – as he did his famous Gaceta de literature de México – for the benefit of his fellow compatriots. This edition was published just after the discovery of the great solar stone in Mexico City, to which Alzate refers in a series of footnotes in this edition.

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