Deconstructivist Architecture Controversy

Deconstructivist Architecture Controversy Opinions about Deconstructivist Architecture are controversial and often contradictory- some critics consider it as a purely formal exercise with little social significance and ambiguous meaning whereas others see it as a way of locating the inherent dilemmas within buildings (and promoting) a serious and necessary criticism of unbridled consumer culture and media-driven hyper reality. In view of the debate surrounding the nature of Deconstructivist Architecture, discuss the ideas and philosophy related to it and argue in favour or against one of the opinions expressed above. Use examples as appropriate. INTRODUCTION: Deconstructivist architecture is a type of architecture developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unlike any other type of architectural type, it escapes the conventional architectural pattern, breaking in that way all the rules of constructive theory. The leader of this movement was the French Philosopher Jacques Derrida, who as we shall see later, with his ideas and philosophy has much influenced other architects into accepting and applying this unpredictable type of architecture. In this course of paper, we will make a discussion on the concept of deconstructive architecture analysing at the same time its elements and background basic idea. Moreover, a historical development will be made on deconstructivism showing what are the origins of the movement. The philosophy will also be discussed behind this type of architecture and all will appear simultaneously with examples of buildings illustrating the concept of deconstructivist architecture. In addition to the above, some criticism will be made on the subject showing that the debate surrounding the nature of this form of architecture is both controversial and contradictory. Examples and commentary will be given by architects that have given their personal opinion on the subject throughout the years. MAIN PART: As already mentioned above, deconstructivist architecture is a style of architecture that contradicts the conventional methods of architecture. While an architect would dream of pure form, by using geometric shapes as cylinders, spheres, cones etc. avoiding instability and disorder, deconstructivist architecture supports the exact opposite. This type of architecture marks a different sensibility, one in which this stability and uniformity is disturbed. And it is exactly this ability to disturb our thinking that makes these projects deconstructive. The history and development: Deconstructivist architecture has initially had two main facets-modernism and postmodernism. While those two schools have ruled almost all of the forms of architectural styles, deconstructivist architecture opposed to their rationality. The journal Oppositions (published 1973-84) in which postmodernist architects and deconstructivist architects published their theories alongside each other, has been the decisive separation between the two movements. While postmodernism followed the historical references of modernism, deconstructivism has gone the other way- rejecting its acceptance and idea of ornament as an after-thought or decoration. Deconstructivism has also been influenced by the Russian Constructivism and Futurist movements of the early 20th century. Both tendencies were concerned with the radical simplicity of geometric forms, all expressed in graphics, sculpture and architecture. However, Constructivism has followed the ornamentation of building, whereas Deconstructivism refuted it. Maybe that is why this style of architecture is called deconstructivist; because while it draws from Constructivism, it radically deviates from it. Some Russian artists from which Deconstructivism has been inspired, include Naum Gabo, Kazimir Malevich and Alexander Rodchenko. The ideas and philosophy: Deconstructivist architecture is characterised by ideas of fragmentation, and manipulation of a structures surface or skin. It refers mainly to the architectural language being displaced and distorted with forms that are often set within conflicting geometries. Usually the building would be designed in parts or pieces in a weird manner with no attention or logic to be given to architecture norms. It would reflect pieces joined together to form unrelated abstract forms. Generally, the finished visual of the projects that illustrates the deconstructive styles, is characterized by a stimulating unpredictability and a controlled chaos. The whole philosophy of deconstructivist architecture was created by Jaques Derridas ideas influencing many later architects. Peter Eisenman and Derrida himself were concerned with the metaphysics of presence and this can be said to be the main subject of deconstructivist architecture philosophy in architecture theory. One of the most important events in the history of Deconstructivism includes the collaboration between the two Eisenman and Derrida on the project of the Parc de la Villette competition, 1.Parc de la Villette, Paris, 1982-1998Â  documented in Chora I Works; and the selected final project by Bernard Tschumi. Other seminal events include the 1988 Museum of Modern Art Deconstructivist architecture exhibition, organised by Philip Johnson and Mark Wigley in New York, which crystalized the movement, and brought fame and recognition to its practitioners. 2.Frank Gehrys own Santa Monica residence, 1978 The idea is that architecture is a language capable of communicating meaning and of receiving treatments by methods of linguistic philosophy. The philosophy examines the nature of reality and the relationship between the matter and the mind. The individual is seen as a composite of linguistic and social sources and can therefore be constructed. The dialectic of absence or presence is a part of the elements to be found and as Derrida notes, is to be found both in construction and deconstruction. According to him, any architectural deconstruction requires for a strongly-established conventional expectation to play flexibly against. Just as a building can be constructed by using the conventional rules of architectures, so a functional building can be built by using non-conventional methods of deconstruction. One example of Deconstructivist Architecture is the design of Frank Gehrys own Santa Monica residence. Beginning with an ordinary house in an ordinary neighbourhood, he changed its massing, spatial envelopes, planes and other expectations in a playful subversion. 3.Vitra Design Museum in Weil-am-Rhein, 1989 There have been many other examples of buildings illustrating the type of deconstructivist architecture over the years. Some of these would include the Turning Tosco in Malmo and the Vitra Design Museum in Weil-am-Rhein by Frank Gehry. Furthermore, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Mits Stata Centre are some of the many buildings that were influenced and made from the deconstructivist architecture style. It appears from the examples and analysis above, that deconstructivist architecture has established a different mode and type of architecture. This has been criticised both with good and bad commentary. The opinions around this matter are controversial and contradictory. Controversial and contradictory opinions: Some critics evaluate this type of architecture as a purely formal exercise with little social significance with ambiguous meaning. Certain architects such as Charles Jencks the famous American theorist, architect and designer, claim Deconstructivism as a new paradigm, whereas others questioned the wisdom behind this type of architecture and the impact it might have on future generations of architects and the built environment. It has been described as fundamentally destructive, because of its rejection of all architectural rules, and its lack to provide clear values as replacements of those. 4.Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, 1997 Moreover, Deconstructivist Architecture has been seen as an intentional aggression on human senses, using certain mechanisms in order to express discomfort and anxiety. More specifically, Nikos Salingaros, calls the Derrida philosophy a virus, that invades the design thinking in order to construct destroyed forms. He further claims that it is an attack on logic, which does not produce logical statements. According to his views, what deconstructivist architecture itself is; meaning the dismantling of structures, traditional beliefs, logical statements and observations, it can easily resemble to the way in which a virus survives and proliferates. This occurs especially where deconstructivists insist on arguing that they are merely analysing and commenting on text. In infecting contemporary architecture, this virus attacks a forms internal organisation and coherence, leaving forms embodying disorganized complexity. One example of a building with which he condemns the philosophy and idea of deconstructivist architecture is the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain by Frank Gehry. In his opinion, this vanguard style represents an unnatural imposition of free-flowing ribbon forms sheathed in a continuous, shiny metal skin. It also eliminates all components that would otherwise lead to coherence. In general, architecture is everything Derrida rejects: beauty, consistency, coherence, functionality etc. in reality, deconstructivist Architecture rejects the reason for which architecture itself exist; for the expression of human needs. And therefore, an architecture that creates disorder, as in the case of Constructivist Architecture; is no longer architecture. In addition to the above, Kenneth Frampton, describes deconstructivist architecture as elitist and detached. In his view this is justified by the self-alienation of an avant-garde without due cause. While Constructivism intended a synthesis, with the creation of a new architecture, Deconstructivist Architectures anti-thesis, derives from the acceptance that global modernisation is pushing those norms beyond the barriers. The two aspects of critical theory are found in deconstructivist architecture; that is analysis and urgency. A building that illustrates this is the Wexner Center for the Arts, by Peter Eisenman. There is the tendency in Deconstructivism to set aesthetic issues in the foreground as of much importance. Huge buildings with extravagant materials and impressive colours would be just some of the characteristics. One building showing the Guggenheim Museum mentioned above. However, if that is made only for elite, and since such buildings are quite expensive to be built, it may increase the level of complexity while it will only attempt to reconcile modern architecture with local differences. 5.Wexner Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, , 1989 Moreover, there are those that argue that architecture is not a language capable of communicating. However, there are those who believe that deconstructivist architecture is innovative and still has things to offer to architecture. It is however often misled. There is the presumption that such an architecture style is a demolition or a dissimulation. Maybe that happens because people often relate the taking apart of a structure to be deconstruction right away. However things are not like that. Deconstructive architecture on the contrary, gains all its force by challenging the values of stability, harmony and unity, and unlike other forms of architecture, proposing for a different view of structure; a structure in which flaws are intrinsic. Such flaws cannot be removed without firstly being destroyed, and therefore they are structural. For this reason, the deconstructivist architect simply locates the inherent dilemmas within buildings and promotes a serious and necessary criticism of unbridled consumer culture and media-driven hyper reality. He is not a person that destroys or dis mantles buildings; what he actually does is to examine deeply the pure forms of the architectural tradition and examine the consequences and reactions where such forms are repressed. In taking those results, he creates something new yet structural. For this reason deconstructivist architecture may not appear as bad as it is made. It is not always bad to try and experience and create something new by altering certain things in a building; this does not necessarily mean that a building cannot be structural or functional. This fragmentation and discontinuity for example of Frank Gehry could Moreover, Deconstruction can be seen as a laughing matter. It is always ironic, playful, humorous and irrelevant about itself, a betrayal of the non-faith. This liberating dissection is what makes it so different from the existing constructions and orthodoxies. As Nietzsche puts it in the canonic Deconstructionist text, Thus Spake Zarathustra: He who must be a creator in good and evil- verily, he must first be a destroyer, and break values into pieces. It can be seen as an essential part of the comic tradition where for a long period now unfinished buildings or rough materials are used. Furthermore, Derrida in his interview, states that the impression deconstruction was given to the public by the media as an association with the end of philosophy is misleading. The media has given the idea that deconstruction is destructive towards texts and traditions, as well as to philosophical heritage. He comments on this idea given, arguing that to create an institution, it must to some extent break with the past while at the same time inaugurating something completely new. Deconstructivist architecture does not mean that we are reproducing but also try something that hasnt been done before. For this reason it has been criticised as violent, as it has no guarantee by previous rules. While it follows the premises of the past it creates something completely new, and this is risky. However, there is no need for absolute guarantee; we ourselves should invent the rules. In his opinion, that is what destruction is made for: not the mixture but the tension between memory, fidelity, t he preservation of something that has been given to us, and, at the same time, heterogeneity, something new, and a break. In general, Deconstructivist Architecture, attacks conventions with its codified unconventionality. One strong example could be the cubiculum of a Roman House in Boscoreale, now found in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. However, it can have further social significance than the one already stated to have. It is a matter of fact that even if unconventional, it can be useful and helpful in tracing defects of the already established norms of architecture. Moreover, as Derridas philosophy states, it is a method through which thinking can be communicated. Through the complicated and unconventional structure of the buildings, spaces need not always be the same, but also express the different emotions and feelings people have. CONCLUSION: Those who truly value Deconstructivist Architecture, it is for that creativity and inventive freshness that they create new rules in architecture. One the other hand, those who doubt this approach, are those who are always sure of the negative results and the anti-social nature of the activity. It could also just be a matter of self-denial. After all, deconstructivist architecture may appear odd to some people due to its unconventional and out-of-barriers technique and looks, but it has managed to find its own place in the world of architecture. It has also proven that it still retains social significance and recognition amongst the public. This can be illustrated by the demand of consumers to more and more ask for modern and different impressive buildings. It can also be seen by the famous buildings made by well-known architectures. However, this could not be made without the bad or good criticism. Even though, the buildings still manage to impress and attract, as except of being functional and structurally stable, they are also unique.

Pleasures of Eating Essay

In â€Å"The Pleasures of Eating† Wendell Berry wants the reader to recognize that eating is a cultural act. He believes we are eaters not consumers and that we should have more knowledge about the food we eat. Berry wants the reader to questions where the food is coming from, what condition is it produced in and what chemicals may it contains. He has found that the food industries blind us to what we are consuming and the effect it has on us. At last Berry believes that we must eat responsibly to live free. Berry first begins with eating as an agricultural act. We think of food as an agricultural product rather than think of ourselves participating in the agriculture. Berry sees us believing we are just consumers, as we buy what we want within our limits and what â€Å"they,† the industrial food companies, want us to buy. With this we ignore the most certain critical questions, â€Å"how fresh is it? How pure or clean is it? How pure or clean is it? How free of dangerous chemicals? How far was it transported? And what did transportation add to the cost? † (Berry 231). Berry recognizes that we are naive to believe that the food we buy is produced on an agriculture farm when we have no knowledge of what kind of far or where it is located. We only know of one process, when it appears on the grocery shelf. Industrial food companies blind us with product commercialization. â€Å"This sort of consumption may be said to be on of the chief goals of industrial production† (Berry 231). Industrial food companies have persuaded us to prefer the consumption of food that is already prepared. They have eliminated the agricultural work giving you the connivence of growing, delivering and cooking it all you for. If industrial food companies could find a way to gain profit from pre-chewing your food and feeding it to you they would do it. â€Å"When food in the minds of eaters, is no longer associated with farming and with the land, then the eaters are suffering a kind of cultural amnesia that is misleading and dangerous. † What Berry means by this is we give up knowing the history of our food and hand over all control and freedom. Like any politics it involves our freedom. By giving someone else the control we, â€Å"neglect to understand that we cannot be free unless our food is free† (Berry 232). Our food wars a much make up as actors (Berry 232). Berry expresses that the food industry wants little to do with our health but more to do with volume and price of their product. As scales increase, diversity declines when this happens so does health. From there the dependence on drugs and chemicals becomes necessary. Food advertising leads up to believe that what we eat is good, tasty, healthy and guaranteed to give us a long life (Berry 233). Industrialism is a trap. Berry believes how to escape this trap is to recognize the food problem as a whole and how eating is inescapable. In order to participate in the agricultural act you must; participate in food productions, prepare your own food, learn your foods origin, cut the middle man when you buy, learn about industrial food companies, good farming and gardening and learn from observation and experience. Berry takes pleasure in eating meat from non-suffering non-farm raised animals. As well as, fruits and vegetables that lived a plentiful life. He believes eating should be an extensive pleasure and the more we participate in agriculture and gain knowledge the more we live, â€Å"free from mystery, from creatures we did not make and powers we can not comprehend† (233). Although Berry made very good points on the importance of a healthy lifestyle he uses excessive amounts of emphasis on knowing what you are eating all the time. I believe if you set limits on the amount of industrialized food you consume, you will still be able to live a healthy and fulfilling life. â€Å"The consumer, that is to say, must be kept from discovering that, in the food industry-as in any other industry-the overriding concerns are not quality and health, but volume and price† (Berry 233) This direct quote was very strong and caught my attention. This made me realize that industrial food companies can be compared to any kind of business as their chief objective is increasing profit. There are, however, certain ways to get around the conventional food industry. It is possible to avoid the trap because after all â€Å"the trap is the ideal of industrialism† (Berry 233). Even though I agree with this certain point, I feel as if there might be a more effective approach that Berry could have taken when describing this so called â€Å"trap. † The way that Berry expresses his views makes it seem as if food industries are out to get you. The description of their goal to make consumers fall into a trap is on the extreme side. Wendell Berry seems to be very into the details of farming and how our meals are processed, but as someone who has been given a very fortunate life style, it is hard for me to relate. When I read I find myself to be having contradictory thoughts as this whole time I have disagreed with most things Berry said; with that being said, the main point of his article is that people take for granted their meals and have no idea the process farmers go through to make our lives the happy ones we live. So yes, Wendell Berry is right in saying people, like myself, should know more about the process and food we absorb each and every day. He does a great job of bringing in his arguments with the tone of his article and repetition of ideas. When he makes a point, he wants to â€Å"hammer it home. † Therefore, I have to applause him for his writing as he is a convincing writer with a strong knowledge base. His position on the food industry and the roles that consumers need to play in order to eat pleasurably is grand but some of his views were too extreme to persuade me.

William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet - 841 Words

Once in our lifetimes we all go through a tragedy, but who is responsible? In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, several characters are responsible for the deaths in the play. The characters; the Capulets, Friar Laurence, and Tybalt are the ones most responsible. The Capulets are one of the responsible ones for the death of Romeo and Juliet because they weren’t supportive, they were uncaring, and impatient. When Juliet told her parents that she did not want to marry Paris, the Capulets wanted to disown her. â€Å"Hang thee, young baggage! Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o Thursday, Or never after look me in the face. Speak not. Reply not. Do not answer me. My fingers itch.—Wife, we scarce thought us blest. That God had lent us but this only child, But now I see this one is one too much And that we have a curse in having her. Out on her, hilding!† (3:5:170). Capulet was being unsupportive of his own daughters decision. If he did not force her to marry Paris, then Juliet would not have to come up with a way to get out of the marriage. Lady Capulet does not support her own daughter either. â€Å"Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.† (3.5.215) Lady Capulet stopped caring about what her daughter wanted. If she had listened to Juliet, hen Juliet would have not planned a way out of the wedding. Lady Capulet did not take Juliets feeling into consideration and forced her to finding aShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1287 Words   |  6 PagesLizzy Baginski English Composition 2 Mr. Spera March 10, 2015 Romeo and Juliet Research Paper The movie Romeo and Juliet is a modern classic film that took place in 1996. Overall this is a timeless story that everyone should go and watch. 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The story of two destined lovers who were killed by their own doing. But what if they weren t two destined lovers who got unlucky, but doomed partners that were never going to have a good-life to begin with.William Sha kespeare gives us a view of early signs of gang conflict in the early age of Verona, Italy. He gives us a perspective of the norms and customs of Italy during the Setting of William Shakespeare s most famous story. Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, givesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1616 Words   |  7 Pageslove can also cause some of life s most controversial battles. These battles could stem from lack of patience, disagreement of moral values, and in some cases, an absence of attraction overall. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the issues that drive Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet s to each of their dreadful misfortunes are inevitable. 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the aztecs Essay - 3431 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Aztecs were an American Indian people who ruled a mighty empire in Mexico from the 1400s to the 1500s. The Aztecs had one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas and built cities as large as any in Europe at that time. They also practiced a remarkable religion that affected every part of their lives and featured human sacrifice. The Aztecs built towering temples, created huge sculptures, and held impressive ceremonies all for the purpose of worshipping their gods. The Spaniards destroyed their magnificent empire in the year 1521, but the Aztecs left a lasting mark on Mexican life and culture . nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The majority of the Aztecs lived in what is now called the Valley of†¦show more content†¦As the Aztecs grew in number, they established superior military and civil organizations. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;According to the famous legend, the Aztecs finally settled at a spot where an eagle sat upon a cactus eating a snake. This was a sign foretold by their patron god. The sign, found by the priests, finally appeared on a small island in Lake Texcoco. By 1325, on the island, the Aztecs built a temple to Huitziposhtli and began to construct the city of Tenochtitlan, the quot;Place of Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit.quot; Over the next 200 years, the city slowly became one of the largest and most powerful cities of the world, and was the giant heart of the Aztecs Empire . nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Aztecs society was structured in a hierarchy with nobles at the top. Social status was determined primarily at birth. All members of the nobility could trace their lineage to the first Aztecs ruler Acamapichtli . The only way one could rise up to another class in the system was to perform an outstanding military achievement. Aztec society had four main classes: nobles, commoners, serfs, and slaves. The nobles usually held high military offices and government positions. However, nobles were also teachers, priests, and bureaucratic officials. The nobles controlled most of the wealth in Aztec society. Obviously, their lifestyles were different and more luxurious than those of the commoners and slaves .Show MoreRelatedThe Aztec Of The Aztecs1330 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1519, the Aztecs were the most powerful kingdom in Mesoamerica. At the peak of their reign, their territory stretched as far as 80,000 square miles over southern Mexico, and had as many as fifteen million people. The Aztecs emerged in the thirteenth century, as a nomadic tribe. They were guided by their chief god, Huitzilopochtli, the war god and representative of the sun. The Aztecs couldn t find a place to settle in the crowded central Mexico. Eventually, they were taken as serfs andRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Empire1459 Words   |  6 Pages Aztecs were one of the most advanced civilizations from the 1400’s to the 1500’s. They were able to create one of the most magnificent empires known to men by an Indian tribe in America. They had built cities and temples as big as cities in Europe. Aztecs were always ahead of their time. They had made technology advancements such as, advanced architecture, technology advancements, engineering and agriculture. They also introduced weapons, medicine, tools, and calendars. The Aztec people were oneRead MoreThe Aztec Of Aztec Life917 Words   |  4 Pages The Aztecs are really interesting people that were alive back from 1400 - 1600 AD. They lived very different than us, because we don’t no human sacrifices because we don’t believe in any of the gods (due to science)This paper will show how the Aztecs lived, including their empire, Government and Agriculture. The first interesting thing about the Aztecs is their daily routine. Aztec family life was very similar to many modern day cultures. For example, the husband was primarily responsible forRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Civilization1097 Words   |  5 PagesThe Aztecs had one of the most successful and advanced empires of all time. They had a dwelling culture The Aztec civilization was located directly in the middle of two mountain ranges in the central valley of Mexico ( Platt 10). Although the Aztec empire eventually came to an end they were able to do well as an empire. Contributing factors that led to the rise of the empire was their political structure, social components, and religious traditions which they preformed earnestly. The Aztecs wereRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Culture939 Words   |  4 PagesThe Aztecs are often perceived as a merciless society who increased their empire through bloody conflict. Furthermore, they are most remembered for religious sacrifice of humans. This included elaborate ceremonies culminating with the removal of organs while the sufferers were still breathing. Although violent sacrifice is intolerable in modern times, it wasn’t uncommon less than a millennia ago. It was practiced throughout the world on every continent. This includes Mesopotamia which is a cradleRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Empire1723 Words   |  7 Pagesruthless empires and civilizations, although none was like the Aztecs and their empire. Although they started off with a humble beginning, they quickly grew into a great civilization that dominated present day Central Mexico. They conquered and expanded into an empire stronger than the other neighboring empires. The heart of the Aztec empi re, Tenochtitlan, was a grand capital filled with many people and astounding temples. The Aztecs were also ahead of their time with fully-functional governmentRead MoreAztec Masks : The Aztecs Essay2109 Words   |  9 PagesAztec Masks To really understand why masks were created by the Aztecs, I believe one really needs to look at the history and religious beliefs of the group. The Aztecs, like other mesoamerican civilizations before it, was a complex nation that faced times for war, had advanced calendar systems, and created a vast amount of art (a variety of different art forms- from poetry to pottery) that sadly most of it was destroyed by the spaniards that came later. The Aztecs had a belief system that includedRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Empire1700 Words   |  7 Pagesruthless empires and civilizations, although not one was like the Aztecs and their empire. Although they started off with a humble beginning, they quickly grew into a great civilization that dominated present day Central Mexico. They conquered and expanded into an empire stronger than the other neighboring empires. The heart of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, was a grand capital filled with many people and astounding temples. The Aztecs were also ahead of their time with fully-functional governmentRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Tribes1026 Words   |  5 Pages The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people that lived within the regions of central Mexico during the mid-13th century through the 16th century. The Aztecs history is one of most famous, rich, and tragic histories in the world. The Aztecs began as nomadic-hunter gatherer tribes mixed with separate cultures. This mix was what founded the Aztec culture we all know of today. It was believed the Aztecs originated from a mythical place known as Aztlan which can be translated to â€Å"the place of origin,† andRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Mythology Essay1620 Words   |  7 PagesHere no one fears to die in war. This is our glory†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Joseph and Henderson, 61). The Aztec mythology claims their god Huitzilopochtli ordered them to leave the seven caves to find new land they would call home. They traveled many years until they found the eagle with a serpent on his mouth standing on top of a cactus. There the Aztecs were to build a temple for the god of war and of the sun, Huitzilopochtli. The Aztecs were tried by many but they learned to become skillful warriors, which allowed them