Early Civilizations of the Americas by Britannica Educational Publishing

Author:Britannica Educational Publishing
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Britannica Educational Publishing
Published: 2012-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

The Aztec perform a round dance for Quetzalcóatl and Xolotl (a dog-headed god who is Quetzalcóatl’s companion). The illustration comes from a reproduction of the Codex Borbonicus, an Aztec manuscript. Courtesy of the Newberry Library, Chicago

To obtain the gods’ aid, worshippers performed penances and took part in innumerable elaborate rituals and ceremonies. Each god had one or more special ceremonies, in which offerings and sacrifices were made to gain the god’s favor. Human sacrifice played an important part in the rites. Because life was humankind’s most precious possession, the Aztec reasoned, it was the most acceptable gift for the gods. As the Aztec Empire grew powerful, more and more sacrifices were needed to keep the favor of the gods. Records indicate that 20,000 captives taken in battle were killed at the dedication of the great pyramid temple in Tenochtitlán. They were led up the steps of the high pyramid to the altar, where chiefs and priests took turns at slitting open their bodies and tearing out their hearts.

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