The largest heraldry site on the net, with presently coats of arms on-line !

Heráldica de Mexico Mexican Civic Heraldry

Origin/meaning:
The symbol is based on the symbol used by the Mexicas to discover the land where they would found Tenochtitlan. Legend has it that they travelled from Aztlán, present-day Nayarit, in search of a sign from Huitzilopochtli to tell them where to settle and establish their empire.
This symbol was an "eagle perched upon a nopal, devouring a serpent". After a long journey, they finally found in the Valley of Mexico, on an island near the edge of Lake Anáhuac. The national symbol therefore reproduces the sign to the Aztecs by Huitzilopochtli: the left profile of the eagle standing on its left leg upon a nopal; in its right talon and beak it holds a rattle snake, which represented the renovation of life to the ancient Mexicas.
The island is bordered by a ribbon with coloured bands: green represents hope and victory, white symbolises the purity of national ideals, and red if for the blood the national heroes shed.
On the island, there is a nopal with red fruits or tunas, which for the Aztecs, symbolised human hearts.
The left side of the garland bears oak branches symbolising strength, while the right side is decorated with the laurel branches of victory.

Home © Ralf Hartemink 1996, ->

See also my other sites Food-Info.net and Food Dictionary