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Aztec Rituals - Sacrifices or Murderers? - Coggle Diagram
Aztec Rituals - Sacrifices or Murderers?
Historical Perspectives
Common Practice Ancient Cultures
Spanish Chroniclers Exaggerated
No substantial proof that Aztecs killed excessively
In Splendor & Blood
Capital seen as smaller version of universe
Sun Stone shows the cosmic history
Beliefs tide strongly to Aztec vision of Tenochtitlan
4 previous ages of creation shown by sunstone (wind, jaguar,rain,water)
Great Aztec temple, focal point of city
Worldview revolves around cycles of birth,fulfillment,destruction,darkness, rebirth
A great part of Aztec culture is self preserving from a "Cosmic Paranoia"
Paranoid sense of insecurity from nature & god
The Moon Goddess
Carved Image of a dismembered Aztec Goddess
Stone matches a 16th century myth
Stone over 10 ft
Discovered In Mexico City February 1978
Led to start to uncover Great Temples foundation
Led to significant initiative to uncover more about the Aztecs
Sacrifice & Cosmovision
Autosacrifice was most common
Monthly ceremonial sacrifices
Aztec empire called Cannibal Kingdom
All rituals at one of 80+ temples
Nezahualiztli proceeded human sacrifice
Those sacrificed greatly respected
Sacrifices & Cannibalism most likely based on religious beliefs, not murderous behaviors
Large # of people eaten for protein?
Cannibalism fuel to feed gods?
Worldview & Sacrifice
Universe created by sacrifice of gods
Physical tangible entitles occupy mortal world
Space time of the creatures
Gods used malinalli to pass through mortal world
Sacrifices made to sustain gods
Human Blood one true offering
Sacrificed beings were considered divine
Communication with gods through cycle of life, death, and rebirth
Sacrifices - a significant role in the spirituality of the Aztecs
Space time of the gods
Human Sacrifice Evidence
Battle For Control of Tenochtitlan
Appendages cut off
Bodies flayed
Bodies thrown down side of the temple
Forced to dance before Huizilopochtil
Bernal Diaz del Castillo
Great Temple of Tenochtitlan
126 People buried
47 heads found
More than a thousand ritual knives
3 complete skulls
2 sacrificial stones
Graphic Violence, not many documented cases
Feast of The Flaying Men
40 day spiritual transformation by captured warriors
Ritual finished with gladiatorial sacrifices
Significant Aztec ritual with many steps
Sacrifices heart removed & offering to the sun
Created ideal Tenochtitlan battlefield
Seen as cosmic warfare by Aztecs & foreigners
Painted red & hair removed
Sacrificed captors seen as divine beings
Sacrifices gave Aztecs sense of invincibilty
Song of Huitzilopochtli
Huitzilopochtli defeats Coyolxauhqui & her siblings
Tenochtitlan Great Temple modeled after Coatepec
Song describes Coatepec as the earth's center
Action takes place on great mountain near Tula
Huitzilopochtli is born fully grown as a great warrior
The song aims to glorify the god Huitzilopochtli
Sacrificial rituals of enemies model the myth