Moctezuma II - References in Modern Culture

References in Modern Culture

  • The Mexican emperor is the title character in several 18th-century operas, some entitled Motezuma, for example those by Antonio Vivaldi (1733), Josef Mysliveček (1771), and some with other names, such as a Montezuma by Carl Heinrich Graun (1755) and by Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli (1781). He is also the subject of Roger Sessions' opera Montezuma (1963), and the protagonist in the modern opera La conquista (2005) by Italian composer Lorenzo Ferrero where his part is written in the Nahuatl language.
  • The Marines' Hymn refers to the Halls of Montezuma.
  • Montezuma is mentioned in Neil Young's song Cortez the Killer, from the 1975 album Zuma (the title of which is also believed to have come from "Montezuma"). The Aztecan empire also served as the backdrop of the song.
  • Montezuma's Revenge is the colloquial term for any episodes of traveler's diarrhea or other sicknesses contracted by tourists visiting Mexico.
  • Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well, 13th century Indian ruins in central Arizona, were named by 19th century American pioneers who mistakenly thought they were built by the Aztecs.
  • Montezuma is a character in the PC video game Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors.
  • In addition, Montezuma is also playable in Sid Meier's Civilization IV as leader of the Aztec civilization; in this game, he has the reputation of a warmonger, often declaring war on other players.

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