Explore the Ancient Aztec Capital in This Lifelike 3D Rendering

Dutch artist Thomas Kole has re-created TenochtitlÁn, the Aztec capital of the Mexica empire.

He turned to historical and archaeological sources as he sought to bring the city back to life.

Kole's 3D images include views of the lake basin during a rain storm, volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl .

Thomas Kole created a 3D reconstruction of Mexico-Tenochtitlán in 1518 .

The Aztec city was the capital of an empire ruling over, and receiving tribute from, more than five million people.

Kole used Blender, Gimp, Dark Table , and Gimp for image processing.

Drone images show the ancient city of Tenochtitlán and Mexico City in 3D.

Artist Thomas Kole wants to travel to Mexico City to see the remnants of the Aztec empire’s capital and its setting in the Valle de Mexico .

Mexico City is built on top of the ruins of the city, but almost nothing of the original city remains.