Iván del Rivero

One of the basic and most notable elements of Mexica military dress was the chimalli, which in Nahuatl means shield or protection. These shields, typically round, were made of wood or woven reed, and both their design and the richness of the materials used were essential in distinguishing the military office and rank of whoever carried one into combat.

There were two kinds of shield. On one hand the Yaochimalli, the shields carried by the brave eagle and jaguar warriors in battle; on the other the Mahuizyochimalli, those granted to the military as prizes, insignia or distinctions for their successes and achievements on the battlefield.

In Chimalhuacán, during pre-Hispanic times, the warriors were charged with guarding the tecpan, or royal palace, and were ready to give their lives defending their people. Today a giant sixty meters tall and six hundred tons in weight is in charge of protecting the inhabitants of Chimalhuacán, a town formed by farmers and fishermen on the shores of Lake Texcoco.

This is the chimalli warrior, a monumental work by the Chihuahuan sculptor Enrique Carbajal “Sebastián”, and also a symbol of the new identity of Chimalhuacán. The warrior greets residents and visitors alike at the entrance to the municipality. By day he carries an axe that at night becomes a torch lighting the way for those passing through these streets.

It is possible to enter the great warrior and climb up to his elbow, where a museum explains in detail the construction of this immense work. There is also a viewpoint from which you can watch families walking the corridor, hear the mariachis sing with their souls, and take in the imposing urban landscape of the State of Mexico. All under the protection of the chimalli warrior.

The Chimalli model. The honor of protecting our history

Inspired by the strength, distinction and courage inherent to the great pre-Hispanic warrior, we created the Chimalli model. A tribute to the protection, the legacy and the identity of those who took on with honor the responsibility of guarding their people and preserving their history.