Aztec Tattoo Meaning: Cultural Practices of One of History’s Most Fascinating Societies
The Aztecs, one of history’s most fascinating societies, advanced in ways that seem difficult to achieve today. Meanwhile, they employed living strategies that would baffle a modern person. Moreover, the Aztecs, one of history’s most captivating societies, demonstrate impressive progress in many ways, including through their cultural practices like Aztec Tattoo Meaning, which reflects their deep connection to symbols and identity.
Notably, one of the most fascinating aspects of the Aztecs’ advancement, by modern-day standards, is their use of symbols and tattoos.
In Aztec culture, symbols were highly influential, creating a strong cultural precedent for tattooing. Furthermore, symbols, sacred in Aztec culture, were central to identity, making tattoos prominent in society.
The Aztec Tattoo Meaning: Understanding The Symbolism Behind Ancient Art
On a surface level, a symbol describes any depiction or figure created in an artistic representation. Due to the time period, the Aztecs mainly used drawings or paintings with symbols to represent aspects of their society.
Symbols were important in Aztec society, as they connected humans to the metaphysical elements that bind us. Symbols represented religious figures and modern feelings, allowing the Aztecs to express themselves beyond the physical realm. This led to the society using many types of symbols, each serving a different purpose.
Some examples of popular Aztec symbols:
Dogs:
As the symbol for the 10th day of the month, the dog serves as a guide to the afterlife. In Aztec society, people typically buried dogs with humans as sacrifices to transport them to the underworld.
The Aztec belief held that the underworld’s ‘ninefold river‘ was inaccessible to ordinary humans. People associated dogs with the dead, embracing them as spiritual guides to the afterlife.
In Aztec society, those born under the dog symbol were destined to rule, making it a symbol of leadership and prosperity.
Maize (Corn):
Maize, the most important crop in Aztec society, was sacred and central to religion and food. The Aztecs believed their essential god, Quetzalcoatl, had given them control over maize, making it sacrosanct.
The Aztecs linked maize to its own god, making the God of Maize equally significant. They celebrated the crop’s significance with ceremonies, celebrations, and by finding new ways to use it.
These uses for maize were examples of the dedication of Aztec society, making the crop a symbol for endurance, perseverance, and sustainability.
Monkeys:
Monkeys appeared in many ancient cultures that occupied what we now know as Mexico. The Aztecs associated the animal with jubilance, using it to represent ceremonies, dance, and satisfaction. Because of the exuberant attitude that monkeys can represent, they also came to represent pranksters and similarly extroverted groups of people.
In Aztec society, the monkey represented a day in the calendar, often applied to the 11th day of each month. It also symbolized apocalyptic notions, exemplified by the belief that the world would end in a large spectacle, with environmental torment through natural disasters, ultimately turning all of humanity into monkeys.
Owls:
In a sharp contrast to the symbolism surrounding dogs, the Aztecs had an intense fear of owls. This was because they associated owls with death due to its status as a nocturnal creature. They thought that the bird was an animal of the night, sealing its associate with dark forces and mystery.
Regardless of where they appeared in Aztec society, owls symbolized misfortune, representing harrowing circumstances for anyone who encountered them.
Eagles:
Eagles, representing the 15th day of the Aztec calendar, symbolized power and dominance. Titleholders should lead, gain reverence, and excel in war.
Decoding Aztec Tattoo Meaning: How Detailed Designs Represented Allegiance to Gods
One of the defining factors of Aztec tattoos is the thoroughness of the patterns. Though there were many ways of representing different symbols in Aztec body art, the largest unifying factor was the incredibly intricate designs for each symbol, often using different types of ornamentation and plenty of lines.
Aztecs would also use tattoos to show their allegiance to a particular god. People typically displayed tattoos on their chests or stomachs, but other patterns also appeared on their arms and backs, similar to tattoos in modern-day culture.
The Sun and Quetzalcoatl’s Role in Spiritual Comfort
A common theme among Aztec tattoos was the sun. Many people used the sun to represent general feelings of unity, as it was the main symbol behind the Aztec calendar. Suns were a way for Aztec people to show a type of grounding, regardless of their religious affiliation or specific practices.
Similarly to the sun, Quetzalcoatl was another symbol that would bring about general feelings of prosperity and comfort for those who embraced it. As the central deity in Aztec belief systems, Quetzalcoatl offered general comfort to those who confided in him.
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