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| Cerro de la Estrella, Mexico City |
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| Cerro de la Estrella (hill of the star) is a hill about 7 miles south southeast of downtown Mexico City. At the time when the area was a lake, the hill was prominant at the end of a peninsula almost separating the salt water lake Texcoco east of Mexico City from the fresh water lake Xochimilco south of Mexico City. The knowledge of human occupation of the area has recently been lengthened with the discovery of a buried pyramid of the Teotihuacan era.
Still celebrated here is the Ceremony of the New Fire (Fuego Nuevo). In Aztec times this occurred every 52 years (the last one in 1507) and involved lighting a fire from four bundles (relating to the cardinal compass points) of 52 twigs, then carrying the fire by runners to the teocalli (templo major plaza) in Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). Much the same is performed today on important occasions (not every 52 years) like the millenium with two ceremonies - one sacred and one for the public. Another more discriptive name for the hill is Hill of the Huizachtepetl Star or Hill of the Huizaches - the farnesiana Acacia tree which can still be found here. These were cut long ago for their fragrance in ritual fires and temazcal baths. Modern planting now makes eucalyptus trees most plentiful near the top. It is an easy ride here to the Ixtapalapa Metro station. The pictures on this page attempt to chronologically portray the experience of climbing the hill: |
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| This is the view of the calvary hill, site of the annual Passion recreating the crucifixion as you turn south up this show street named Cerro de la Estrella from Ixtapalapa's east-west main drag. | The view of the Passion site looking northeast as you circle behind it. Everyone refers to the annual event and this site as the Pasion. | The area just behind the passion site where the teotihuacan pyramid was discovered. Good luck excavating with modern buildings on it. |
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| Your first wistful distant glimpse of the hill. | A better view of the hill near the Museum of the New Fire. | Nearer the top there is this switchback road. |
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| Very close now looking back west. | Modern steps heading north to the summit. | At the top looking east this platform is modern. The temple complex where sacrifices were popular in spring were razed by conquistador types. |
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| A local pointed out this tarantula to me before I stepped on it and asked if I had a bag so he could collect it. Apparently they are not common. | A blow up of the explanatory area map seen on the picture above. | The placque in front of the platform pictured above refers to El Fuego Nuevo but has been vandalized. |