Malinalco - Building I

(Local Name: Edificio I) Immediately north of Building VI (Edificio VI) will be found Building I (Edificio I), the Templo Principal. Entirely hewn from the rock, this temple was originally faced with a thin coating of coloured stucco. As the House of the Eagle (Cuauhcalli), symbolising the sun, it was used for the initiation of members of the religious military orders, the Eagle Knights and the Jaguar Knights.

The staircase is flanked by the remains of carved jaguars: in the middle can be seen the damaged figure of a standard-bearer. The Temple which stands on the platform is now protected by a palm-leaf roof. The entrance to the circular shrine is carved in low relief to resemble the jaws of a snake, on either side of which stand a serpent-throne and a war-drum throne. The temple-chamber, 6 m (20 ft) in diameter, contains three figures of sacred animals hewn from the native rock; to the left and right are eagles and in the middle, to the rear, a jaguar. In the centre of the semicircle rests the carved representation of an eagle's skin, and behind this is a cavity in which the hearts of sacrificial victims were probably deposited.