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Aztecs: Gods
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The Aztecs were a very religious race and strongly believed in the practice of sacrificing people to please the gods. They sacrificed over 20,000 people a year. The emperor thought that a special temple should be built for the deadly ritual, so, the Aztecs built the Sacrificial Temple. One example of such a temple would be the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan.
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The Aztecs worshiped a host of gods who personified the forces of nature. To obtain the gods' aid, the worshipers performed penances and took part in innumerable elaborate rituals and ceremonies. Human sacrifice played an important part in the rites. Since life was man's most precious possession, the Aztecs reasoned, it was the most acceptable gift for the gods. As the Aztec nation grew powerful, more and more sacrifices were needed to keep the favor of the gods. At the dedication of the great pyramid temple in Tenochtitlán, 20,000 captives were killed.
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The Aztecs carried on constant wars with neighboring peoples. They fought with wooden swords that had sharp stone blades. They ... used bows and arrows as well as spears. Their armor was padded cotton made into suits fitted to the body. The Aztecs warred in part because they believed the gods had given them all Mexican lands. They also warred to obtain more goods and land to meet the needs of their growing population.
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The Aztecs expressed themselves through music, arts, crafts, and the sciences. Music played an important role in Aztec religious rituals. The most important instruments were flutes, drums, and rattles. These were played along with chanting to help worship the gods. A popular way to pass the time was through art. Some of the Aztec art is still around today.
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The Aztecs inherited from the Toltec and the Maya the practice of human sacrifice. It was believed that the main Aztec deities, Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca, needed regular nourishment from the blood and heart of sacrificed victims in order to perpetuate the continued existence of the universe. Up to 15 000 people a year were sacrificed, mainly by ripping out the beating heart of the victim who was stretched out on a stone in front of the temple of the god. High-status warriors, nobles, and priests ate the flesh of those sacrificed.
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The Aztecs adorned themselves with images of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent God they worshiped. Egyptians mummies have been found with sun symbols tattooed into their preserved flesh. Members of indigenous North American tribes marked themselves with the symbol of their protective spirit in hopes it would watch over them. And ancient sailors sought tattoos of crucifixes and Christian fish symbols, which they believed would protect them from sea monsters and from falling off the edge of the Earth.
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