469:. In the central section, we see Tlazolteotl, the earth goddess, surrounded by the eagle, a solar attribute, and by the jaguar, the symbol of the night. Inside a temple in this there is Teccistecatl, a masculine deity associated to the Moon and to fertility. On the lower part of this wall is a ritual ceremony of a propitiatory nature, in which the sacred meaning of the war is emphasized. The right-hand side of the mural represents the antithesis of life: the world of mystery, that of the dark side of things, of evil and death. Here we can perceive Quetzalcoatl's serpent drawn by using chalchihuitls (jade-like stones) and shells; below the serpent que can contemplate the image of Chalchiutlicue, the water goddess, and in front of her is a bonfire where her son is being sacrificed in order to give birth to the Moon; besides this scene, we find Tezcatlipoca, the creative principle and lord of the sorcerers, accompanied by a skull. The center of this part of the wall is dominated by the dual representation of Mictlantecuhtli-Quetzalcoatl, in the lower area we find images of warriors along with prisoners of war that complement the chapter related to human sacrifice.
397:
385:
131:
425:
473:
cosmogonical belief that the shape of the universe is composed of two joined ellipses. This one features Tlaloc glyphs related to tonalpohualli, the most important ritual calendar of the
Mexican people. Said calendar was the center of their celebrations and their astronomical calculations. The finishing stroke to this side of the mural is an image of the myth concerning the founding of the city of Mexico-Tenochtitlan.
25:
687:
452:
464:
This wall corresponds to the pre-Hispanic era and puts into play the life-death duality. This wall is dominated by mythical elements. On the left side of the main axis, separated into three different planes, we can see deities and scenes pertaining to the life-creating principle: on the upper corner
392:
The
Central Library encompasses an area of 16 thousand square meters and is built on a platform three-meter above the terrain, Two basalt fountains and decorative reliefs inspired by pre-Hispanic art were placed at the base of the building. The color of the stone in these elements is in plain view,
447:
According to the artist, in each of the four walls that make up the surface of the mosaic, he represented three fundamental historical facets of the
Mexican culture: the pre-Hispanic era, the most ancient facet; the Spanish colonial era, and the modern age as a result of the two previous periods.
432:
The outside murals are entirely built from stone tiles, which where brought from different places in Mexico and classified by color prior to their placement. The colors seen in the mural are the natural colors of the tiles, not paint, which O'Gorman chose in order to create an artwork that would
408:
The project included ten windowless floors for book storage, each having enough space for 120 thousand volumes. These storage areas have the necessary lighting, temperature and humidity conditions for book conservation. In the reading room, flanked by a garden on each side, the diffuse and matte
472:
The vertical axis of the composition shows
Tonatiuh as the primeval source of the life cycle whose permanence is guaranteed by the sacrifices of men and gods. In this part of the mural, we can perceive a black and white ellipse divided into two, whose formal composition is based on the Mexica
338:
In 2017 the
Central Library holds 1,445,118 volumes, including: 589,418 books; 323,452 journal and magazine issues; 9 subscriptions to Mexican newspapers; 2,687 brochures and 8,616 multimedia CDs. It also has 520,936 thesis, and 299,057 of them are available for full-text access online.
465:
is the Sun, framed by
Quetzalcoatl in the guise of a serpent; below this, the figure of Tlaloc emerges carrying a mat on his back; the section is complemented by Huitzilopochtli holding a shield and the Xiucoatl, the
800:
591:
316:. His unique masterpiece has become the most iconic building from the UNAM. In July 2007, the UNESCO proclaimed the Central Library, along with the Central Campus of the University City, as
584:
773:
1034:
577:
444:
project). Lazo was very excited, especially by the idea of making a mural made just out of thousands of colored tiles, something that never had been done at that scale.
661:
621:
1049:
874:
409:
light is filtered through thin tecali stone slabs. The service areas of a library of such proportions were placed in the semi-basement of the building.
1054:
915:
868:
147:
931:
905:
600:
289:
42:
393:
done to take advantage of the stone's texture as an aesthetic and expressive element and to give a sense of continuity to the external pavement.
1059:
656:
783:
416:. The mural, one of the largest in the world is created using tiles of 12 colors that, when viewed from a distance, produce various hues.
1029:
842:
108:
972:
847:
89:
982:
61:
805:
46:
936:
68:
676:
757:
711:
721:
716:
626:
747:
701:
706:
616:
503:
75:
737:
35:
1039:
1003:
651:
636:
631:
439:
296:
57:
666:
671:
646:
967:
752:
742:
962:
641:
1044:
810:
396:
384:
330:
After 25 years, it underwent its first remodel (1981–1983), changing from a closed to open shelves.
317:
305:. It has a multidisciplinary approach for all the university courses from the adjacent faculties.
82:
957:
900:
549:
523:
977:
895:
313:
239:
197:
569:
130:
987:
952:
424:
376:
The service hours are Monday to Sunday, from 8:30 to 21:30 hours, including holidays.
1023:
247:
412:
The façades were covered with natural colored stones that shaped the mural titled
436:
The idea for the murals was proposed by O'Gorman to Carlos Lazo (Manager of the
251:
186:
182:
24:
255:
162:
149:
910:
879:
686:
451:
1008:
243:
863:
857:
853:
302:
271:
323:
The
Central Library hosts some of the administrative offices of the
16:
Main library of the
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
778:
450:
423:
395:
383:
497:
573:
18:
996:
945:
924:
888:
835:
819:
793:
766:
730:
694:
609:
433:endure the passage of time in an outdoors setting.
347:The Central Library offers the following services:
301:Campus. It holds one of the largest collections in
266:
261:
234:
229:
221:
203:
193:
178:
123:
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
801:Applied Mathematics and Systems Research Institute
404:covers the entire facade of the upper ten floors.
327:. The library opened to users on April 5, 1956.
290:National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
308:The building is covered with the mosaic mural
585:
437:
354:Self check-out module (registered users only)
294:
8:
487:West Wall: The University and Modern Mexico
592:
578:
570:
120:
916:Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico
325:General Libraries Directorate of the UNAM
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
1035:National Autonomous University of Mexico
906:National Autonomous University of Mexico
602:National Autonomous University of Mexico
500:—Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
414:Historical Representation of the Culture
515:
869:Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo
135:View from the south-west corner (2022)
455:A detail of the building's North Wall
363:Visual and motor disability equipment
310:Historical Representation of Culture,
7:
784:Centro de Relaciones Internacionales
402:Historical Representation of Culture
47:adding citations to reliable sources
1050:Library buildings completed in 1956
388:One of the building's two fountains
843:Ciudad Universitaria (Main Campus)
14:
351:Book loan (registered users only)
1055:Modernist architecture in Mexico
685:
482:East Wall: Contemporaneous World
129:
23:
34:needs additional citations for
973:Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea
548:Gluszek, Alicja (2019-09-16).
312:created by the Mexican artist
1:
1060:Libraries established in 1956
983:Francisco González de la Vega
806:Aesthetics Research Institute
662:Political and Social Sciences
622:Accounting and Administration
460:North Wall: Pre-Hispanic Past
360:Information retrieval service
550:"The Largest Mural on Earth"
758:National Preparatory School
504:List of libraries in Mexico
293:is the main library in the
58:"Central Library" UNAM
1076:
946:Professors and researchers
880:Kan Balam (Super Computer)
683:
477:South Wall: Colonial Past
438:
428:The building's South Wall
295:
242:, newspapers, magazines,
144:
140:
128:
1030:Libraries in Mexico City
1009:Pumas Dorados de la UNAM
901:2018 students' protests
774:Cinematographic Studies
963:Francisco Gil Villegas
748:Nursery and Obstetrics
657:Philosophy and Letters
524:"Central Library UNAM"
456:
429:
405:
400:Juan O'Gorman's mural
389:
896:1999 students' strike
811:Engineering Institute
677:Veterinarian Medicine
454:
427:
399:
387:
163:19.33361°N 99.18722°W
968:Miguel Ángel Mancera
937:Astronomical Society
875:National Observatory
440:Ciudad Universitaria
297:Ciudad Universitaria
124:Central Library UNAM
43:improve this article
357:Online loan renewal
209: (68 years ago)
168:19.33361; -99.18722
159: /
958:Luis E. Miramontes
457:
430:
406:
390:
1017:
1016:
554:DailyArt Magazine
282:
281:
272:bibliotecacentral
262:Other information
119:
118:
111:
93:
1067:
1040:Murals in Mexico
978:Fernando Quevedo
689:
603:
594:
587:
580:
571:
564:
563:
561:
560:
545:
539:
538:
536:
534:
528:architectuul.com
520:
467:precious serpent
443:
442:
300:
299:
278:
275:
273:
217:
215:
210:
198:Academic library
174:
173:
171:
170:
169:
164:
160:
157:
156:
155:
152:
133:
121:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
1075:
1074:
1070:
1069:
1068:
1066:
1065:
1064:
1020:
1019:
1018:
1013:
992:
988:Antonio Lazcano
953:Axel Didriksson
941:
920:
884:
848:Olympic Stadium
831:
827:Central Library
815:
789:
762:
738:Arts and Design
726:
690:
681:
605:
601:
598:
568:
567:
558:
556:
547:
546:
542:
532:
530:
522:
521:
517:
512:
494:
489:
484:
479:
462:
422:
382:
345:
336:
285:Central Library
270:
254:, drawings and
235:Items collected
213:
211:
208:
167:
165:
161:
158:
153:
150:
148:
146:
145:
136:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1073:
1071:
1063:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1022:
1021:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1011:
1006:
1000:
998:
994:
993:
991:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
949:
947:
943:
942:
940:
939:
934:
928:
926:
922:
921:
919:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
892:
890:
886:
885:
883:
882:
877:
872:
866:
861:
850:
845:
839:
837:
833:
832:
830:
829:
823:
821:
817:
816:
814:
813:
808:
803:
797:
795:
791:
790:
788:
787:
781:
776:
770:
768:
764:
763:
761:
760:
755:
750:
745:
740:
734:
732:
728:
727:
725:
724:
719:
714:
709:
704:
698:
696:
692:
691:
684:
682:
680:
679:
674:
669:
664:
659:
654:
649:
644:
639:
634:
629:
624:
619:
613:
611:
607:
606:
599:
597:
596:
589:
582:
574:
566:
565:
540:
514:
513:
511:
508:
507:
506:
501:
493:
490:
488:
485:
483:
480:
478:
475:
461:
458:
421:
418:
381:
378:
374:
373:
370:
367:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
344:
341:
335:
332:
318:World Heritage
280:
279:
268:
264:
263:
259:
258:
236:
232:
231:
227:
226:
223:
219:
218:
205:
201:
200:
195:
191:
190:
180:
176:
175:
142:
141:
138:
137:
134:
126:
125:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1072:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1027:
1025:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1004:Football club
1002:
1001:
999:
995:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
950:
948:
944:
938:
935:
933:
930:
929:
927:
923:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
893:
891:
887:
881:
878:
876:
873:
870:
867:
865:
862:
859:
855:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
840:
838:
834:
828:
825:
824:
822:
818:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
798:
796:
792:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
771:
769:
765:
759:
756:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
735:
733:
729:
723:
720:
718:
715:
713:
710:
708:
705:
703:
700:
699:
697:
693:
688:
678:
675:
673:
670:
668:
665:
663:
660:
658:
655:
653:
650:
648:
645:
643:
640:
638:
635:
633:
630:
628:
625:
623:
620:
618:
615:
614:
612:
608:
604:
595:
590:
588:
583:
581:
576:
575:
572:
555:
551:
544:
541:
529:
525:
519:
516:
509:
505:
502:
499:
496:
495:
491:
486:
481:
476:
474:
470:
468:
459:
453:
449:
445:
441:
434:
426:
419:
417:
415:
410:
403:
398:
394:
386:
379:
377:
372:Guided visits
371:
368:
366:Computer room
365:
362:
359:
356:
353:
350:
349:
348:
342:
340:
333:
331:
328:
326:
321:
319:
315:
314:Juan O'Gorman
311:
306:
304:
298:
292:
291:
286:
277:
269:
265:
260:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
228:
224:
220:
206:
202:
199:
196:
192:
188:
184:
181:
177:
172:
143:
139:
132:
127:
122:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
1045:1950s murals
852:Radio UNAM (
826:
627:Architecture
557:. Retrieved
553:
543:
531:. Retrieved
527:
518:
471:
466:
463:
446:
435:
431:
413:
411:
407:
401:
391:
380:Architecture
375:
346:
337:
329:
324:
322:
309:
307:
288:
284:
283:
214:5 April 1956
207:5 April 1956
105:
99:January 2024
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
753:Social Work
617:Engineering
533:27 December
256:manuscripts
204:Established
187:Mexico City
166: /
1024:Categories
836:Facilities
794:Institutes
712:Cuautitlán
667:Psychology
652:Odontology
559:2024-09-08
510:References
334:Collection
230:Collection
154:99°11′14″W
151:19°20′01″N
69:newspapers
911:Okupa Che
820:Buildings
637:Economics
632:Chemistry
610:Faculties
369:Photocopy
244:databases
722:Zaragoza
717:Iztacala
672:Sciences
647:Medicine
492:See also
343:Services
246:, maps,
240:journals
222:Branches
189:, Mexico
183:Coyoacán
179:Location
889:History
864:TV UNAM
767:Centres
731:Schools
702:Acatlán
287:of the
267:Website
238:Books,
212: (
83:scholar
997:Sports
932:Alumni
925:Alumni
871:(MUAC)
707:Aragón
420:Murals
303:Mexico
252:prints
248:stamps
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
786:(CRI)
779:DGSCA
743:Music
274:.unam
90:JSTOR
76:books
535:2023
498:UNAM
194:Type
62:news
695:FES
642:Law
276:.mx
45:by
1026::
858:FM
856:,
854:AM
552:.
526:.
320:.
250:,
185:,
860:)
593:e
586:t
579:v
562:.
537:.
225:1
216:)
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
