the legend of the aztec empire began with a vision that included a snake, an eagle, and a _____.

The legend of the Aztec empire began with a vision that included a snake, an eagle, and a cactus. According to the Aztec story, their god Huitzilopochtli told them to find an eagle eating a snake while perched on a prickly pear cactus. This vision marked the place where they were to build their city, Tenochtitlan. The eagle represents the sun god and power, the snake symbolizes wisdom and the earth, and the cactus represents the island where the city was founded. This imagery is famously depicted on the Mexican coat of arms and flag.