The mysterious rock-cut temples of Malinalco

The little town of Malinalco lies at the margins of the Valley of Tepoztlan, some 115 kilometers to the
southwest of Mexico City. Since Prehispanic times, its name has been associated with magic and sorcery.
Malinalxochitl, goddess of snakes was worshipped on the Cerro de los Idolos, a hill overlooking the
entire valley and the town below. In 1470, a temple was built on the hill as a sanctuary and a center of
initiation for the military elite of the Aztec empire, the Eagle and Jaguar warriors. The origins of the site
may however date back hundreds or even thousands of years earlier.