Platform of Eagles and Jaguars

myminifactory

The intricately carved platform sits proudly on the heartland between the Temple of Venus and the Platform of Skulls. Figures of fierce jaguars and eagles tearing hearts apart are believed to symbolize warriors who captured victims to be sacrificed in honor of their gods. The Eagle Knights, an elite group of archers, led the charge against enemy lines before other soldiers engaged in close combat. Their eagle-shaped helmets and feathered cloaks signified their status as skilled marksmen who excelled on battlefields. The Jaguar Knights were considered the army's most formidable fighters, modeled after those found throughout Central Mexico. Armed with wooden clubs tipped with sharp obsidian knives, they clashed with foes in hand-to-hand combat. Their jaguar skin armor and helmets adorned with jaguar heads made them nearly invincible. The jaguar figures on display represented soldiers responsible for capturing prisoners to be sacrificed to the city's gods.