Human Sacrifice

what is thought of Aztec sacrifice?

• ritual bloodshed was far more widely practiced by the Aztecs than any other in the New World

• condemned as evil

• often compared to the Nazis

• the people are haunted by the spectre of human sacrifice

origins

• predates Mexica culture

• archaeological materials are problematic

• sacrifices are linked to origin stories

Mictlanteuhtli and Quetzacoalt  

humans formed over the blood of the male penis mixed with the bones/ corn

Nanahuatzin (moon) and Tecciztecatl (sun)

• gods chosen to be the sun and th moon

• chosen to sacrifice

• Tecciztecatl hesitates but Nanhuatzin does not and jumps into the

• he becomes the sun

• sacrifices other fods to become wind and this moves through the sky

Tlaltecihtli

• sea monster,r goddess

• ripped in half to become stars and the land

• earth itself is a god that demands constant nourishment from sacrifices

Mictlampa, the northern part of Mictlan

• Most people die as a sacrifice or in battle and you get the flowered death 

• Elevated to the sky 

• Created as a death to be envied and craved 

• Women could be elevated in that way but is very ambiguously alluded to 

Cihuateotl

woman god

Tzitzimitl (devil women)

• devour humanity

• line between powerful female and demon

victims

• Children who were born with two cowlicks became sacrificial victims 

• Claims that drugs were used to keep victims compliant but this is not shown within sources 

• Some went with their heads held high and some were dragged kicking and screaming 

• Sacrifice of Tezcatlipoca - roamed freely through the city for a year before his death. On the day of his death he ascended the temple and chose when he was going to die 

• Never new if genuine belief, fear, coercion or personal honour are what motivated people

• Ixiptka of Texcatlipoca- obsidian knife, sharper than a scalpel. 

Chavez Balderas and Vazquez Valli on Human Sacrifice

• a way in which the Spanish justified there conquest

wade on human sacrifice

• it was believed it nourished the gods

• political power and religious belief is key to understanding the practice

Leon portilla on human sacrifice

• exhorted warriors not to fear death

graulich on human sacrifice

• research research tends to focus on arbitrarily privileged sources

• the ritual killing of the deity was to sacrificially nourish the gods

• not to feed creators but to humble oneself