Chimalli

Ivan del Rivero

One of the basic and most prominent elements within the Mexica military attire was the chimalli, which in Nahuatl means shield or protection. These shields, typically round, were made of wood or woven reeds, and both their design and the richness of the materials with which they were made were fundamental to distinguish the military position and rank of the person carrying it during combat.

There were two types of shields, on one side were the Yaochimalli which were the shields used by brave eagle and jaguar warriors during battles, and on the other hand, there were the Mahuizyochimalli, which referred to those shields awarded to soldiers as prizes, insignias, or distinctions, based on their successes and achievements on the battlefield.

In Chimalhuacán, during the pre-Hispanic era, the warriors had the mission to guard the tecpan, or royal palace, and they were willing to give their lives to defend their people. Today, a giant 60 meters tall and weighing 600 tons is responsible for safeguarding the inhabitants of Chimalhuacán, that town formed by farmers and fishermen on the shores of Lake Texcoco.

It is about the warrior Chimalli, a monumental work by the Chihuahuan sculptor Enrique Carbajal “Sebastián”, which is also a symbol of the new identity of Chimalhuacán. The warrior welcomes both residents and visitors alike at the entrance of the municipality. By day he carries an axe that at night becomes a torch that lights the way for those who walk these streets.

It is possible to enter the great warrior and climb up to his elbow where there is a museum that explains in detail the construction of this magnificent work. In addition to a viewpoint from where you can see families walking through the corridor, listen to mariachis singing with their soul, and admire the imposing urban landscape of Mexico State. All under the protection of the warrior chimalli.