The Integral Role of Human Sacrifice in Aztec Cultures
This is probably the least attractive feature of the otherwise very advanced empire of natives Facts about aztec human sacrifice. Nevertheless, reveal that these rituals were a major part of Aztec culture, as well as the cultures of many other native tribes during that time.
Before the Aztecs were….well, the Aztecs, there were plenty of other tribes in North America, and they loved to sacrifice. With that said, these seemingly sadistic rituals were nothing new when the Aztecs waltzed right into Mexico and decided to stay.
Spanish Conquest Records
In the year 1521, when Hernand Cortés and the rest of Spain waltzed into Mexico and decided to stay, evidence of Aztec human sacrifices was everywhere. As a matter of fact, there was enough evidence to fill multiple reports and books regarding these people. The writing was literally on the wall in the form of paintings, depicting these rituals as a regular custom, so the only question left to ask is “why?”.
If you were to ask Spain that question during the 16th century, you might hear a lot of this:
“Because they’re savages!!”
This of course is coming from one of the many European nations to invade occupied land, kill off most of the native inhabitants and enslave the rest, all while trying to convert them to Christianity.
Dark but Devout Religious Practice
In actuality, the Aztec sacrifices took place because they had a religion of their own, a much darker religion, but a religion nonetheless.
According to the Aztec Legend of The Five Suns, a number of gods sacrificed themselves so that humanity could live. In an effort to thank the gods and pay off a never ending debt, human sacrifices were required. Consider it a message from the Aztecs: “If you’re prepared to sacrifice your life for us, then we should be equally ready to sacrifice ours for you.
The entire nation seemed to agree with this philosophy, and so it was considered an honour to be the next guy on the chopping block.
Calendar and Rituals
Now, of course, Aztec sacrifice couldn’t happen every day. That’s a good way to eliminate your entire race, and then who would be left to appease the gods?
To make sure that didn’t happen, Aztec human sacrifices took place on specific days, holidays if you will, just with less gifts and more bloodshed.
In a single year, there are 18 of these “holidays”, one for each month.
List and Facts about aztec human sacrifice
- 5 of the 18 require child sacrifices.
- 11 of the 18 require that the heart be ripped out.
- 2 of the 18 require someone to wear the flesh of the lucky sacrifice.(eww!!)
- Four out of the eighteen sacrifices must be decapitated.
- 2 of the 18 require that the sacrifice be burned alive.
- 1 of the 18 requires that the sacrifice be drowned.
- 1 of the 18 requires that the sacrifice be starved to death.
- 1 if the 18 requires that the body of the sacrifice be eaten.
- The final event, on the last month of the year, requires that everyone fast for five days. No one is sacrificed. Unbelievable, isn’t it?
The Fire Ceremony every 52 Years
Along with these 18 different events, there is a ceremony held every 52 years. During this ceremony, a sacrifice is made(who’s surprised?)so that the gods will have enough energy to hold the universe together, because believable existence can’t maintain all of existence by themselves is a good idea.
Facts about aztec human sacrifice reveal that if the gods aren’t strong enough, the world ends. So, the Aztecs make this important sacrifice and then wait for the sun to rise the following morning, signifying that they have successfully postponed their demise.
Facts about aztec human sacrifice: The Hierarchy of Aztec Gods
While all the Aztec gods were significant, there was a commonly accepted hierarchy. Not all gods are created equal you know, unless they weren’t created at all, that is.
Huitzilopochtli
This figure represented both the essence of the Aztec spirit and the sun, making him a significant and influential presence. The sacrifice he was given was the one where the warrior who captured him got to eat him and considering dental hygiene wasn’t a thing, this guy probably dawned the cologne that every Aztec man dreamed of, rotting corpse.
Tezcatlipoca
He was the most powerful and most feared. The god of darkness, chaos and generally screwing things up for people, was not kind or merciful though having the power to be exactly that.
Facts about aztec human sacrifice reveal that for his dedicated ritual, a child is the target, which seems fitting for Tezcatlipoca. The child pretends to be the god for an entire month and is given four beautiful women, because a child will know what to do from there. At the end of the month, the kid is dead.
Xiuhtecuhtli
He was the god of fire and had a previous form with a name just as crazy as the rest of these gods. His sacrifice rituals involved food, which obviously means it can’t be that bad, and it isn’t that bad until captives start being burned alive and have their hearts ripped out, while they’re still breathing I might add. The Aztec gods really had a thing for hearts. Of course, the Aztecs would do anything if they were threatened with an all consuming fire. Talk about your plans going up in smoke.
Archeological Evidence
Proof isn’t hard to find when it comes to Aztec human sacrifice. Just waltz yourself down to Mexico City and find hundreds upon hundreds of skulls and other bones near the sites of the old Aztec temples. Facts about aztec human sacrifice show that the Aztecs had nothing to hide. There’s something to be said about a group of people who killed one another and were quite proud of it. I don’t know what that something is, but I’d say it’s not positive.
Facts about aztec human sacrifice
- The Aztecs conducted human sacrifices as a means to express reverence and ensure the goodwill of their gods.
- Each year, the Aztecs carried out eighteen sacrifices, dedicating one for every month of their calendar.
- A sacrifice was performed 18 times annually, aligning with each month of the Aztec calendar.
- You can find all kinds of remains near ancient Aztec temples.
- Tezcatlipoca was a jerk, or would’ve been had he actually existed.
- The 16th century Spanish were jerks.
- As a matter of fact, pretty much all of 16th century Europe was just a big collection of jerks.
