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The Aztecs | TheSchoolRun

The Aztecs were a group of warriors who first settled in the valley of Mexico in the 14th century. They became some of the most important and powerful people in Mesoamerica and ruled a large empire in the 15th century.

The Aztecs were known for being rather fierce and in fact didn't have the best of reputations - they even sacrificed humans in order to keep the gods they believed in happy!

The Aztecs were very skilled people - great at hunting, fishing, farming and art - and what's more they discovered chocolate!

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The Aztecs | TheSchoolRun The Aztecs were a group of warriors who first settled in the valley of Mexico in the 14th century. They became some of the most important and powerful people in Mesoamerica and ruled a large empire in the 15th century.

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choose 2 and describe them.

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The very term 'Aztec' has a mythological lineage since it is derived from Aztlan (or 'Place of Whiteness' in connotative meaning), the mythical place of origin for the Nahuatl-speaking culture. According to one version of their legacy, it was the Toltec warlords who pursued the Mexica (one of the warlike Mesoamerican people who later formed the Aztec Triple Alliance or Aztec Empire) and forced them to retreat to an island - a precarious endeavor made successful by the guidance of their patron god Huitzilopochtli, the Hummingbird of the South. And it was on this island that they witnessed the prophecy of "an eagle with a snake in its beak, perched on a prickly pear cactus" - which led to the founding of the massive city of Tenochtitlan in circa 1325 AD, by 'refugees'.

As for the historical side of affairs, the various Aztec gods, goddesses, and the related pantheon were adequately similar to previous and contemporary Mesoamerican cultures (including Maya), albeit with a few exceptions that were intrinsically Mexica. Taking such cross-cultural influences into consideration, let us take a gander at 12 major Aztec gods and goddesses you should know about.

1) Ometecuhtli - The Two Lord

Like most mythologies, the Aztec pantheon was also 'topped off' with a primordial god. Known as Ometecuhtli, this primeval divine being of fertility was perceived as a dual entity representing both male and female, and as such the name in Nahuatl pertains to 'Two Lord' or 'Lord of Duality' (also known as Omecihuatl or 'Two Lady'). In essence, Ometecuhtli (or ) espoused the antithetical factors of nature, with the masculine and feminine sides representing the light and dark, chaos and order, and even in some respects good and evil.

In the Aztec creation story, Ometecuhtli was self-birthed, and as such the androgynous being's dual genders acted as husband and wife to give birth to the other four major Aztec gods - Huitzilopochtli , Quetzalcoatl , Tezcatlipoca , and , who in turn represented the four cardinal sides. As for the historical side of affairs, unlike most other Aztec gods and goddesses, Ometecuhtli had no temple erected in his honor. The lack of any formal cult is possibly explained by the Aztec belief system that placed Ometecuhtli in the 13th heaven (symbolically, the highest plane) that made the entity 'disconnected' from the affairs of the 'lower' Aztec gods and mortals.

2) Quetzalcoatl - The Feathered Serpent

Counted among the most important of Aztec gods (and Mesoamerican divine entities), Quetzalcoatl, regarded as the son of the primordial god Ometecuhtli , was venerated as the creator of mankind and earth. Also known as to the Maya and to the Quiché (of Guatemala), etymologically, the very name 'Quetzalcoatl' comes from the combination of the Nahuatl words for the - the emerald plumed bird, and or serpent. As for his aspects, often considered as the Aztec god of wind and rain, Quetzalcoatl also espoused a variety of avenues like science, agriculture, crafts and even merchants.

In one version of the Aztec creation myth, the world was created and destroyed for four times (each age associated with the sun), with some of the tumultuous episodes being borne by the fighting between Quetzalcóatl and his brother Tezcatlipoca . Ultimately during the Fifth Sun, Quetzalcóatl was successfully able to retrieve the human bones from the underworld (guarded by the realm's ruler - Mictlantecuhtli ) that were infused with his own blood and corn to once again 'regenerate' mankind.

In another myth, the god along with his brother , a female serpent-like monster. Consequently, her hair and skin give way to trees and flowers, while her eyes and nose account for the caverns and springs. However, given the violent loss of her physical form, the monster (now embodying the earth) thirsts for blood and hearts - thus alluding to the grisly practice of human sacrifice. As for the historical side of affairs, the Feathered Serpent, in spite of his initial Tezcatlipoca fashions the earth out of ). 'hybrid' characteristics, was usually depicted (post circa 1200 AD) in a human form who usually is adorned in shell jewelry and wears a conical hat (

3) Tezcatlipoca - The Smoking Mirror

The lord of the nocturnal sky and the eternal antithesis of his brother , Quetzalcóatl Tezcatlipoca, among the major Aztec gods and goddesses, is also sometimes credited as being the co-creator of the world. Pertaining to this role, according to one version of the mythical narrative, Tezcatlipoca sacrificed his own limb when he baited it for the female serpent monster . And thus he was given the honorific title of Ipalnemoani - 'he by whom we live'.

The very name Tezcatlipoca translates to 'Smoking Mirror' in Nahuatl, which suggests his connection to the obsidian. The Aztec god was also associated with a range of various concepts, including north, hurricanes, war, rulership, eternal youth, divination, sorcery, and jaguars. Coming to history, the figure of Tezcatlipoca was possibly inspired by earlier Mesoamerican deities, including the Mayan . In any case, he was one of the major Aztec gods in the later pantheon whose temple was situated south of the Great Temple in Tenochtitlan , while his main festival - the Toxcatl ceremony, was celebrated in the month of May.

4) Huitzilopochtli - The Hummingbird of the South

Considered as one of the major Aztec gods, Huitzilopochtli was also the supreme deity of the Mexica people (whose nobles later formed the Aztec Empire). In essence, as opposed to many other Aztec gods and goddesses, Huitzilopochtli was intrinsically a Mexica deity rather uninfluenced by earlier Mesoamerican divine entities. He was considered as the god of the sun and war, attributes which elevated him to the position of the patron deity of Tenochtitlan itself (by early 15th century), thus intrinsically tying up the 'hunger' of gods with the Aztec penchant for ritual war.

Taking cues from the mythical narrative, Aztecs interpreted the 'sibling rivalry' between Huitzilopochtli and his sister Coyolxauhqui as the tussle between the sun and the moon for the control of the sky. This nature of the conflict was also epitomized by Huitzilopochtli association to warfare - and as such, he was accompanied by his entourage of fallen warriors (whose spirits returned to earth as hummingbirds) and women who died during childbirth (which was perceived as an act of bravery). As for the historical side of affairs, Tenochtitlan was the focal point of Huitzilopochtli worship, with the capital city housing the shrine and wooden statue of the Aztec god (atop the Temple Mayor). Incredibly enough, the steps leading to Huitzilopochtli's own temple, on the south side, was painted in gaudy red to signify the essence of blood and war.

5) Xipe Totec - Our Lord the Flayed One

A deity of agricultural renewal, vegetation, seasons, goldsmiths, and liberation, Xipe Totec was counted among one of the major Aztec gods and goddesses. And while his related concepts and powers seem fairly innocuous, the worship (and its mode) of Xipe Totec was anything but. This is somewhat discerned from his ominous name roughly meaning - 'our lord with the flayed skin'. The Nahuatl moniker comes from the mythical narrative where the Aztec god flayed his own skin to feed humanity, thus symbolizing how maize sheds its outer skin cover before germination ('rebirth').

Suffice it to say, with the imagery of flayed skin and also the cult of death (and rebirth) associated with Xipe Totec, the Mexica people tended to venerate this Aztec god with human sacrifices - mostly carried out during the March festival of Tlacaxipehualiztli (meaning 'flaying of men'). One of the popular modes of sacrifice involved the mock gladiatorial combat where the prisoner (chosen on account of his bravery) was tied to a stone and handed a 'fake' macuahuitl with feathers instead of sharp obsidian blades. He had to (hopelessly) fend off an experienced Aztec warrior/s fully armed and armored. After his 'glorious' death, his skin was ritually flayed, painted yellow, and worn by reenactors of Xipe Totec (usually slaves), who were then worshipped and treated as gods by the local people. Annually, a quota of slaves and captured warriors was also selected for sacrifice. And after their hearts were cut out, their skins were worn by Aztec priests for 20 days, often bedecked with bright feathers and gold jewelry. On the completion of the festival period, the priest shed the rotting flayed skins, thus once again symbolizing the rebirth aspect of Xipe Totec.

6) Tláloc - He Who Makes Things Sprout

The supreme deity of rain, Tláloc was considered as an enigmatic entity among the major Aztec gods and goddesses, especially with his early representations (from circa 3rd to 8th century AD) that entailed a masked divine being with large round eyes and extending fangs, possibly inspired by the contemporary Maya god . With his association with rain and consequent fertility, Tláloc was probably worshipped as a beneficent Aztec god. However, like some other entities in the Aztec mythology, he was also depicted with a dual aspect, and this 'dark' side pertained to his ability to bring forth thunder, hail, and storms.

Now judging by the aforementioned timeline, it is safe to assume that Tláloc and his cult was one of the oldest in Mexico, possibly centered around the mysterious origins of the city of Teotihuacan (not to be confused with Tenochtitlan). As for the symbolic side of affairs, given his association to rain and water, Tláloc was often correlated with caves, springs, and mountains, most specifically the sacred mountain in which he was believed to have his abode.

7) Chalchiuhtlicue - She of the Jade Skirt

The Aztec goddess of 'collected' water on earth, thus embodying rivers, lakes, and oceans, Chalchiuhtlicue was considered as the female (protector) deity of navigation, childbirth, and newborn babies. Given her association to water, Chalchiuhtlicue was often related to , one of the major Aztec gods of rain and thunder. Interestingly enough, in that regard, she was often venerated as the wife (or sister) of , while in some cases, she was even worshipped as the feminine form of himself.

In the narrative of the Aztec lore, Chalchiuhtlicue plays a crucial role in the Mexica version of the deluge myth, as she is the one to bring forth the cataclysmic flood and destroy the world of the Fourth Sun (the world of the Fifth Sun is once again populated by humans due to the efforts of Quetzalcoatl - discussed earlier in the article). However, in spite of her seemingly harsh aspect, she does her bit to save the life essence of humans by transforming them into fishes. As for the historical side of affairs, Chalchiuhtlicue was an important Aztec deity in a time period as late as the 16th century. Her festival coincided with the month of February (at the commencement of the rains), usually involving various rituals, like fasting, feasting, bloodletting, and brutal episodes of human sacrifice (that even included women and children).

8) Mixcoatl - The Cloud Serpent

The deity of the hunt, Mixcoatl, among the major Aztec gods, has a pretty complex history in the mythical narrative. This partly has to do with the shared origins of Mixcoatl, who was also known as (roughly translating to 'without deer sandals'), and was venerated in earlier and contemporary Mesoamerican cultures like the Otomi, the Chichimecs, and the Toltecs. Most of these cultures, along with the Aztecs, also tended to associate the lord of the hunt with the Milky Way, the stars, and the heavens.

Interestingly enough, while in the Aztec pantheon, Mixcoatl played a secondary role to Huitzilopochtli , he was sometimes worshipped as the 'red' aspect of Tezcatlipoca ('The Smoking Mirror'), an entity responsible for striking the first fire with flint. In another instance, Mixcoatl is mentioned to be the father to Centzon Huitznahua (400 entities that tried to kill Huitzilopochtli's mother but ended up having their hearts eaten by the god of war) and also Quetzalcoatl . As for his worship, Mixcoatl was venerated during November ( - the 20th Aztec month), with the festival entailing hunters dressed up like the god engaging in hunting, roasting games, and feasting.

9) Coatlicue - The Serpent Skirt

Venerated as the 'mother of gods', Coatlicue among the major Aztec gods and goddesses, was also mythically regarded as the feminine entity that gave birth to the stars, moon, and Huitzilopochtli (the patron god of sun and war). Furthermore, two different Aztec goddesses - "our grandmother", and Cihuacóatl "snake woman" (who was worshipped as the patron goddess of women who died during childbirth) were perceived as the aspects of Coatlicue herself. In essence, all of these narratives place her as the supreme matronly goddess of the Aztec mythology that nourishes with her feminine capacity (as opposed to the abstruse nature of double gender presented by Ometecuhtli , the primordial entity among the Aztec gods).

When it came to her depiction, as the name 'Serpent Skirt' suggests, Coatlicue was represented with her skirt made of writhing, interwoven snakes (possibly alluding to fertility) and drooping breasts (that suggested her pregnant state). On the symbolic level, she was also seen as the embodiment of earth - however, with dual characteristics - that of a loving, nourishing mother and of an insatiable force that required the lifeblood of its hosts.

10) Xochiquetzal - The Precious Feather Flower

Among the major Aztec gods and goddesses, Xochiquetzal (also known as Ichpōchtli - meaning 'maiden') was a feminine deity of beauty, sexual love and power, fertility, and arts and crafts. Interestingly enough, as opposed to other Aztec gods, Xochiquetzal had pretty straightforward depiction in the mythical narrative, as she was often represented as an attractive, youthful woman who was dressed in her exquisite attire bedecked with flowers and followed by a vibrant retinue of birds and butterflies.

Talking of the mythical narrative, according to most versions, Xochiquetzal was originally the wife of rain god but was later abducted and forced to marry Tezcatlipoca , the god of the night. Incredibly enough, it was the latter who elevated her to the position of the goddess of love - thus somewhat mirroring a political rivalry between the major Aztecs deities. In any case, beyond her powers of sexuality, Xochiquetzal was also venerated as the patroness of young mothers, pregnancy, weaving, and embroidery.

11) Mictlantecuhtli - The Lord of the Land of the Dead

Among the major Aztec gods and goddesses, Mictlantecuhtli was the deity of death and the underworld and was usually associated with creatures like owls, spiders, and bats (along with the direction of the south). In the mythical narrative, as we fleetingly mentioned before (in the Quetzalcoatl entry), Mictlantecuhtli played his role in delaying the Feathered Serpent from gathering the bones of humans in his underworld realm Mictlán. And it was only after Quetzalcoatl tricked him that humanity was 'revived' from bones and blood of the gods.

Now as the Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli was perceived as the singular entity that all human souls had to encounter, regardless of their righteousness or immorality. The only souls exempt from the arduous journey into the underworld (located at the deepest level) were the ones who had died a violent death, either from childbirth or from storms and floods. As for his depiction, Mictlantecuhtli was often represented as a skeletal figure with blood spots or an ominous entity wearing a skull mask and necklace of eyeballs.

12) Tonatiuh - The Turquoise Lord

A fierce deity representing the Fifth Sun (the final era in Aztec mythology, i.e., the present age), Tonatiuh, among all the major Aztec gods and goddesses, was probably the one who was most associated with the act of ritual sacrifice. Essentially, in many Postclassic Mesoamerican cultures (circa 10th to early 16th century), including that of the Nahua-speaking Aztecs, the hearts of the sacrificial victims were perceived as the symbolic 'nourishment' for the sun. And Tonatiuh, as the sun, needed such nourishment so that he can defeat darkness on a daily basis to rise effulgently during the morning.

This scope made Tonatiuh one of the Aztec gods of warriors in the Mexica society, as these soldiers were the ones tasked with defeating and rounding up prisoners of war - many of whom were chosen as sacrificial victims for the sun god. Over time Tonatiuh also became associated with the guardian deity who accompanied the spirits of the fallen warriors into the rigorous afterlife. Coming to the historical representation, Tonatiuh was often depicted as a symbolic sun disk (or sometimes a squatting man with an imposing disk on his back), with the motif being carved into the walls of monuments and temples.
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12 Major Aztec Gods And Goddesses You Should Know About

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The very term 'Aztec' has a mythological lineage since it is derived from Aztlan (or 'Place of Whiteness' in connotative meaning), the mythical place of origin for the Nahuatl-speaking culture.

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Question- How has Dia De Los Muertos evolved from the age of the Aztec to today?

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Question- How has Dia De Los Muertos evolved from the age of the Aztec to today?

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El Día de Muertos tiene su celebración en nuestro país desde mucho antes de la Conquista Española, desde hace más de 3 mil años, de hecho, la fiesta a la muerte que se realiza hoy es una combinación entre las costumbres de la época prehispánica con las tradiciones cristianas.

Para algunas culturas de Mesoamérica, tras las guerras entre los pueblos, era una tradición conservar los c ráneos de los enemigos como trofeos para mostrarlos en rituales que se relacionaban con la muerte y el renacer. Durante estas celebraciones también se honraba a los dioses aztecas Mictlantecuhtli y Mictecacíhuatl, las deidades de la muerte.

Había una diferencias en las fechas, pues el festival que se llevaba a cabo por el Día de los Muertos se conmemoraba en el noveno mes del calendario solar mexica, inicio de agosto en nuestro calendario y se realizaba durante todo un mes. La festividad era presidida por Mictecacíhuatl, conocido como "La Dama de la Muerte", hoy La Catrina, y eran dedicadas a los niños y parientes fallecidos.

La festividad del Día de Muertos tiene un origen que se remonta al 800 a. C, aunque hay discrepancias al respecto, pero se sabe que para los aztecas la fiesta significaba también el fin de la cosecha de frijol garbanzo, maíz y calabaza, alimentos que formaban parte de la ofrenda que se le daba a la diosa "Dama de la muerte", reina del Chinamictlan, guardiana del noveno nivel del infierno, llamado Mictlan, donde iban los muertos que fallecían por causas naturales.

(Imagen: El Universal)

Los investigadores creen que la herencia del Festival de Muertos se mezcla con la costumbre prehispánica de sepultar a los fallecidos con objetos, comida, ofrendas y más, idea que nace que de esta vida pasaban al reino del Mictlan, luego a Tlalocan, el cielo de los aztecas, por eso el muerto necesita para el viaje alimentos, agua y velas para iluminarse, inclusive a su perro, quien los ayudaría a sortear los infortunios que se presentaran

Cuando llegaba aquel mes de agosto se tendían ofrendas a los muertos, con copal y cempasúchitl para marcar el camino de regreso a este mundo terrenal.

En la Región Huasteca, por ejemplo, se celebraba el Xantolo, Fiesta de las Ánimas; los huastecos ofrecían a los dioses la cosecha del maíz en una fiesta de respeto a los parientes que ya no están, las esencia de los espíritus estaba presente, por eso las frutas, la música y la luz que recuerdan los momentos vividos en la tierra.

Para los mesoamericanos la muerte no tenía las connotaciones que vemos hoy en la religión católica, ellos creían que los rumbos destinados a las almas de los muertos estaban determinados por el tipo de muerte que se tenía, no por el comportamiento en vida.

Cuando los españoles llegaron a América en el siglo XV, estaban aterrados por las prácticas paganas de los indígenas y en un intento por convertir a los americanos al catolicismo, movieron el festival hacia las fechas de noviembre para que coincidieran con las festividades católicas de Día de Todos los Santos y Todas las Alma s. Por eso la celebración tiene tintes cristianos, pero también étnicos.

Hoy las celebraciones son diferentes en cada estado del país, comparten los mismos rasgos, pero varían en las formas de cada tradición.

(Foto: Museo de Antropología e Historia)

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¿Cómo celebraban el Día de Muertos nuestros antepasados?

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El Día de Muertos tiene su celebración en nuestro país desde mucho antes de la Conquista Española, desde hace más de 3 mil años, de hecho, la fiesta a la muerte que se realiza hoy es una combinación entre las costumbres de la época prehispánica con las tradiciones cristianas.

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Revista Travesías | Inspiración para viajeros

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For many, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is synonymous with sugar skulls and elaborate skull face painting. In reality, it is a two-day series of festivities that light up Mexico with colors and a seemingly omnipresent joy. Every year, on , Mexicans take place in an adored demonstration of love and respect for deceased relatives.

In towns and cities throughout Mexico, and the world, Day of the Dead is full of symbolic rituals and heartfelt offerings accompanied by a celebration: elaborate costumes, bustling parades and parties, masterful makeup, and more than a handful of reasons to smile. In this post, we will enumerate how you can celebrate Día de Muertos in Mexico City along with a short history.

History

Día de los Muertos dates back thousands of years to the reign of the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people. For these pre-Hispanic cultures, death was merely one of life's phases and was not to be mourned. The dead lived on in everyday life in both memory and spirit, and during Día de los Muertos, they had the opportunity to temporarily return to the world of the living. However, the Día de los Muertos celebration we all know today is now a mixture of pre-Hispanic rituals and Christian influence, such as the moving of the dates to November 1 and 2 - All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on the Catholic calendar.

How to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Mexico City?

In honor of one of Mexico's most endearing celebrations, the capital offers a large quantity of free activities, from mega ofrendas (offerings) in the main plazas to a (fairly new) Catrina parade. Without a doubt, Mexico City knows how to uniquely embrace their dead; as proof, here is a list of the activities taking place in 2018 that are worth experiencing.

1. La llorona (The Weeping Woman) in Xochimilco

Take a nighttime ride through the canals of Xochimilco capping with a show narrating the legend of la llorona (The Weeping Woman). This year the spectacle will take place between October 5 and November 18 and will be celebrating its twenty-five years on stage. Also, this event is the only of its kind that has won multiple awards for its efforts in preserving a piece of Mexican history, recognized in 2008 by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

2. Día de Muertos Parade 2018

This year marks the third edition of the Día de Muertos parade - a celebration full of iconic folklore associated with Mexico's Day of the Dead. As every year, you can awe over decorated floats, José Guadalupe Posada's classic catrinas turned into giant marionettes, and Day of the Dead-themed balloons. Contrary to popular knowledge, this parade was not a norm in Mexico City until the release of the 2015 James Bond film, ; in the film, Bond casually weaves through the parade before changing into a suit and pursuing his targets. The scene made an international impact, and Mexico City saw an opportunity to boost tourism while finding a new, fun way to celebrate their beloved holiday.

This year the event will take place on Saturday, October 27, from 11am to 4pm. It will begin at the Estela de Luz monument and end at the Zócalo Capitalino.

3. El Bonito: pan de muerto and calavera festival at Huerto Roma Verde

Pan de muerto (bread of the dead) has become the gastronomic symbol of the season. To celebrate all its meanings, Huerto Roma Verde is organizing a festival in collaboration with more than forty artisanal bakeries from around the city. The event will have a wide variety of breads, from the most traditional to organic and vegan options. The only rule is that no one can use any type of disposable materials (styrofoam, plastic). To take your favorite breads home, you will need to bring your own sustainable containers for storing and/or drinking.

The festival will take place every day from Thursday, October 25, to Sunday, October 28, from 11am to 7pm at Huerto Roma Verde (Jalapa 234, Roma).

4. Mexico City's mega ofrendas

Altars are the soul of the Day of the Dead because behind each offering, small or large, there lays emotion and meaning. To honor this tradition, this year Mexico City will host two very important mega ofrendas (large offerings): one in the Zócalo (organized by the Ministry of Culture) in remembrance of migrants who have lost their lives, and another in the Plaza Santo Domingo where the UNAM will commemorate the students who lost their lives during the massacre of October 2, 1968.
*** Other articles that might interest you:
Terraza Cha Cha Chá: social cuisine and revolutionary views
Under the Volcano: the hidden Mexico City bookstore
Bazaar Sábado: the reinvention of the beloved market

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How to Celebrate Día de Muertos in Mexico City

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For many, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is synonymous with sugar skulls and elaborate skull face painting. In reality, it is a two-day series of festivities that light up Mexico with colors and a seemingly omnipresent joy. Every year, on , Mexicans take place in an adored demonstration of love and respect for deceased relatives.