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Aztec Human Sacrifices

M. Laser History・2 minutes read

Human sacrifices were a significant aspect of Aztec beliefs, with victims undergoing various rituals before being sacrificed to appease gods like Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. The practice served religious, political, and ecological purposes in pre-Columbian Central Mexico, but colonial sources have been questioned for their biases and authenticity, impacting our understanding of Aztec history.

Insights

  • Human sacrifices were central to Aztec beliefs, seen as necessary to appease gods and ensure divine favor, with various sacrificial methods and victims ranging from enemies to citizens.
  • Colonial sources, though biased and often exaggerating numbers, offer valuable insights into Aztec society and practices, muddled by the destruction of pre-colonial codices, leaving only three surviving ones and raising questions about historical accuracy.

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Recent questions

  • What were Aztec sacrifices for?

    To appease gods and ensure divine favors.

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Summary

00:00

Aztec Sacrifices: Rituals, Beliefs, and Society

  • Human sacrifices, often tied to religion, have occurred globally throughout history, with the Aztecs notably engaging in extensive human sacrifices.
  • The Aztecs, residing in central Mexico, were part of a larger group known as the Mexica, ruling over the Aztec Empire.
  • The terms Aztec, Mexica, and Nahua are used interchangeably but refer to distinct groups within the Aztec Empire and Central Mexico.
  • Central to Aztec beliefs was the necessity of human sacrifices to appease gods like Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, ensuring the sun's rise and other divine favors.
  • Various sacrificial rituals existed beyond heart extraction, including drowning, burning, and ritualistic battles, with victims ranging from enemies to citizens.
  • The Mexica conducted ritualistic wars, like the flower wars, to capture enemies for sacrifices, distinct from conventional warfare tactics.
  • Sacrificial victims underwent cleansing rituals before being sacrificed, with local citizens and captured warriors often part of the sacrificial group.
  • Being chosen for sacrifice held societal honor, with families potentially benefiting, while refusing sacrifice was seen as dishonorable.
  • Some viewed sacrifice as a path to eternal fame and honor, willingly embracing their fate, while others resisted and were forcibly sacrificed.
  • The complexity of Aztec religious beliefs and practices, including human sacrifices, reflects a rich but intricate society in pre-Columbian Central Mexico.

13:05

Forced sacrifices in pre-Columbian Central Mexico.

  • In pre-Columbian central Mexican society, some individuals resisted being sacrificed and had to be forcibly taken to the altar.
  • Climbing the steep, bloodied steps of the pyramid, surrounded by the bodies of sacrificed individuals, was a daunting task.
  • The sacrificial event involved a large crowd singing ritualistic songs, with many participants engaging in auto-sacrifice by letting blood for the gods.
  • Hallucinogenic drugs like shrooms were used in ceremonies, particularly by the nobility and priests, but the extent of their use in sacrificial ceremonies remains unknown.
  • Some sacrificial victims willingly accepted their fate, while others had to be forcibly held down on the sacrificial stone.
  • The most common type of sacrifice involved extracting the heart with an obsidian knife, presenting it to the specific idol, burning it, and discarding the body down the pyramid steps.
  • Various body parts were used differently after the sacrifice, such as placing skulls on a Tzompantli and feeding other body parts to animals or warriors.
  • The second type of sacrifice specific to Tenochtitlan involved a year-long preparation of a young male chosen to impersonate the god Tezcatlipoca, culminating in his sacrificial death.
  • Historians propose three reasons for prevalent human sacrifices in Central Mexico: religious, political, and ecological factors.
  • While religion played a significant role in normalizing human sacrifices, political motives, such as maintaining power and control, also influenced the practice.

26:34

Colonial sources shape Aztec history understanding.

  • Colonial era sources provide information about the people in the Aztec Empire and surrounding areas, including accounts from conquistadors, colonizers, Nahua songs, and codices.
  • The majority of pre-colonial Mexica codices were destroyed by the Spanish and Catholic church, leaving only three surviving codices today.
  • Historians question the authenticity of the surviving pre-colonial Mexica codices due to similarities with colonial codices, leading to heavy reliance on colonial sources.
  • Colonial sources, often biased to justify conquest, exaggerate numbers such as the 80,400 people supposedly sacrificed during a temple dedication ceremony, which is considered a Spanish fabrication.
  • Interpretation of colonial sources is complicated by the grouping of all Amerindians together, muddling cultural and ethnic differences that existed in the pre-colonial period.
  • Codices written by native Nahuatl speakers under Spanish supervision, like the Florentine Codex, raise questions about the accuracy of information presented.
  • Despite biases and challenges, colonial sources can still provide valuable insights when cross-referenced and analyzed using historical methods.
  • King Itzcoatl of the Mexica destroyed early historical codices to solidify a single national historical narrative, influencing the history we know today.
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