Aztec Beliefs & Gods
Of all the ancient American civilizations the Aztecs have become one of the most popular subjects to learn about. There are many reasons why. From there grand city, form of government, buildings, art and religion. The Aztecs religion has attracted the interest of many scholars. When thinking about the Aztecs religion human sacrifice usually comes to mind. Much like when you think of other ancient civilizations you must take into account their view of religion as a whole. The Aztecs believed in many gods that played a role in how their religion worked. All of which helped shape their view of the world around them.
The Aztecs were also known as the Mexica (Meh-shee-ka) people. In the 14th century they built their city Tenochtitlan which was located on a lake island what is now the city of Mexico City. Tenochtitlan became one of the largest cities in the world by the early 1500's. It is said that the city was home to over 200,000 people. The city contained large canals and roads. Markets, temples and schools all lined the city along with well-built neighborhoods. This showed how powerful their government was but also how civilized the people were.
Religion & Aztec Life
Religion played a big role in the lives of the Aztecs. Religion was not just one thing that was practiced it affected all of their day to day lives. Whether they were farming, going to war, ruling as a government member or just living life the Aztecs thought of religion. They believed that everything in the universe was alive and that man and the gods were connected to each other. The Aztecs believed that their universe went through many "Suns" or ages. Each age being destroyed by something. The first four suns were destroyed by floods, winds, jaguars and fire. We are currently living in the fifth sun which will also come to an end. The Aztecs religion revolved around the idea that if man and the gods were not in harmony the world would come to an end.
Huitzilopochtli was one of the Aztec gods. He was the god of the Sun and war. Huitzilopochtli led the Aztec people on their journey and told them to build Tenochtitlan wherever they saw an eagle sit on top of a cactus eating a snake. This picture still represents Mexico to this day and is seen on their flag. The god of war wasn't only worshipped for battle. The Aztecs believed that every morning the Sun was fighting off the evils that would try to destroy their universe. So, the god of the Sun needed to be fed to keep the universe safe. Although we find these beliefs strange today, they played a big role in the Aztec way of life.
Quetzalcoatl & Tezcatlipoca
Quetzalcoatl translates to Feathered Serpent. He was one of the most intriguing gods in Aztec religion. He stood for wisdom, learning, wind, creator, fertility and priests. He was considered to be a god of civilization. Many stories tell that he taught man how to grow food and how to read and write. He also discovered the stars and how to count the days. He was one of the most worshipped gods in Mesoamerica before the Aztecs rose to power.
Tezcatlipoca was a god that went hand in hand with Quetzalcoatl. His name can be translated to Smoking Mirror. He was the god of fate, change, war, rulership and darkness. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca show us how the Aztecs religion could have opposite forces that can work together.
Tlaloc was the Aztec god of rain. Since they relied on rain to grow their crops the god of rain was very important. He also stood for rivers, springs, mountains and fertility. Many Aztec farmers prayed to him hoping for a good rain season. Tlaloc was often pictured with goggles and sharp teeth. He was one of the most recognizable gods in Aztec religion. Next to him was Chalchiuhtlicue who was the goddess of lakes, rivers and fresh water.
Aztec Female Deities
Coatlicue or She of the Serpent Skirt was another female deity. She was the mother of many gods including Huitzilopochtli. Coatlicue stood for both life and death. You can see her statue in Mexico City's museum of anthropology. To many of us this statue might look scary, but it shows many meanings to Aztec religion. When the Aztecs died, they didn't go to heaven or hell based on how they lived their lives. If you died in battle or while giving birth you would travel with the Sun during its journey each day. If you drowned you would go to the god Tlaloc's paradise. Most others would go to Mictlan the underworld. Ruled by Mictlantecuhtli and his wife Mictecacihuatl. It took four years to reach Mictlan.
The Aztecs also had a very detailed way of measuring time. They had two calendars that they used one was 260 days and the other was 365 days. These two calendars worked together and created a 52 year cycle. At the end of each cycle the Aztecs would put out all of there fires. Then relight a fire on top of a mountain. Which symbolized that the universe and time was starting over.
Kids in the Aztec civilization went to school. Where they would learn morals and about religion. They also learned about poetry, music, history and how to fight. The priests were highly respected members of Aztec society. They knew everything about their religion and helped the people with their beliefs.
Aztec Human Sacrifice
As mentioned before, one of the things we know about the Aztecs is their human sacrifice. We shouldn't brush this topic under the rug or make it seem worse than it is. Yes, humans were sacrificed and played a part in some ceremonies. But that doesn't define all of their religion. The Aztecs felt that the gods gave their life to create our world so we should give to them as well. Whilst, few religions today call for human sacrifice, and it’s not something modern society condones, we should put our judgment aside, in order to better helps us understand their religion.
The Aztecs built many beautiful works of art to depict their beliefs. The Templo Mayor was one of the tallest buildings in Tenochtitlan. It was dedicated to both Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. Many paintings and sculptures were made to represent the gods and their stories. Colors and animals also played a part in Aztec art. Eagles, jaguars, snakes, hummingbirds and butterflies were just some of the animals they depicted.
Just like many other civilizations the Aztecs studied the stars. They used the stars to help them with their religion and farming. They knew when certain events would occur by looking at the Sun and Moon.
When the Spanish arrived in Mexico in 1519 the Aztecs religion began to decline. Within a few years their Empire had fallen. Many temples were torn down, and the Aztec religion was shut down. Some parts of their religion survived through the Aztecs’ descendants. We still know about the Aztec religion today through research and discovery. Many historians have helped us learn about the beliefs of the Aztecs. As we continue to learn about the Aztecs, we can start to appreciate what they believed. Just like we have many questions about life the Aztecs had those questions too. Why are we here? What keeps us alive? What happens when we die? Why do we have to help each other? The Aztecs may have answered these questions differently than we do today, but they were all searching for the same answers that we ask. Their answers differed profoundly from those offered by many later traditions, yet their search for meaning remains recognisably human. By studying their gods, myths, rituals, and cosmology with both historical accuracy and cultural respect, we gain not only a deeper appreciation of one of history's greatest civilizations but also a richer understanding of humanity's enduring spiritual imagination.