All about the ancient tribes
The religion of the Aztecs was polytheistic, and like other aspects of Aztec society, it was heavily influenced by the religions of earlier Mesoamerican civilizations.
This polytheistic religion is home to a plethora of gods and goddesses, and the religious activities of the Aztecs frequently included deities that had been appropriated from the religious traditions of people who lived in other parts of the world. According to the cosmology of the Aztec faith, the globe is composed of thirteen heavens and nine earthy strata, also known as the netherworlds.
A number of different things contributed to the religion of the Aztecs having such a diverse pantheon of deities. The collapse of preceding Mesoamerican societies, such as the Toltec, Olmec, Teotihuacan, and Maya, led to the establishment of the Aztec Empire in the first place.
It is vital, if we are to comprehend the Aztecs, to have as complete an understanding as possible of their religious beliefs as well as the ways in which those beliefs showed themselves in their civilization.In order to accomplish this goal, we shall investigate their religion in general, including its gods, holy calendar, and temples.In subsequent sections, we shall discuss religious rites and ceremonies, as well as the practice of sacrificing humans.
Aztec Gods Henry B.Nicholson, a notable Aztec researcher, divided the various gods worshiped by the Aztecs into three categories: gods of the heavens and the gods who created the world; gods who presided over agriculture, water, and fertility; and gods who presided over battle and human sacrifice.Follow the links to find out more information about each of the most important gods and goddesses.
MATOS MOCTEZUMA: The religion practiced by the Aztecs was predominately polytheistic. They worshiped a variety of gods, both male and female. Tonatiuh was the name of the sun deity. There were numerous gods, and they were honored during special celebrations once a month by presenting lavish sacrifices.
Human sacrifice, in particular the tradition of presenting the heart of a victim to Tonatiuh, was a popular ritual, as did the letting of blood from victims. The calendar was deeply intertwined with Aztec religion. It served as the foundation for an intricate cycle of rites and ceremonies that kept the priests busy.
Everything in life was governed by religion. Religion infiltrated every area of Aztec life, regardless of one’s rank in society, from the highest born ruler to the lowest slave. This was true even for the people who practiced it. The Aztecs venerated their many gods with a wide array of rites and ceremonies, some of which included the sacrifice of human beings.
The social, intellectual, and aesthetic aspects of the Aztec civilisation were all at a very high level of development. It was a highly structured civilization with a rigorous caste system. Nobles occupied the highest positions in the society, while serfs, indentured servants, and enslaved labourers occupied the lowest positions.
They practiced polytheism, which meant that they believed in a wide variety of gods and goddesses—over 200 in total! The people of Aztec thought that their gods had influence over various areas of the cosmos, including the weather, agriculture, fertility, and war. These gods were responsible for all aspects of daily life in Aztec society.
The subsequent life Aztecs did believe in an afterlife, and there are some Aztecs today who still hold this belief. However, their beliefs regarding the afterlife are distinct from those of a large number of other civilizations in a number of significant respects. The majority of Aztecs held the ancient belief that after death, most individuals traveled to the same place in the underworld.
During the time that they were in power, the Aztecs farmed vast tracts of land. Corn, beans, and squash were the three most important foods in their diet. They added chiles and tomatoes to these ingredients. They also gathered a species of crayfish-like critter called an acocil, which is common in Lake Texcoco, as well as a type of algae called spirulina, which they baked into cakes.
It was a sad turn of events when Hernan Cortes, who was in charge of leading the invasion of the Aztec empire, and his troops were able to triumph over the Aztec people and destroy them.After gaining control of the Aztec people, the Spanish colonizers started the process of gradually converting them to Christianity.The reason behind the Aztecs’ religious transformation has always been a mystery.
They believed that in order for the sun to rise each day, the Aztecs needed to carry out certain rites and make sacrifices in order to bestow the sun with power.Although the Aztecs believed in and worshipped a great number of gods, they accorded a higher level of significance and authority to a select few of those gods.Huitzilopochtli was considered by the Aztecs to be their most significant god.
Is it possible that there are still Aztecs living today? Both yes and no The Nahuatl language, which was spoken by the Aztecs, is still spoken by around one and a half million people today. In addition, there are a great number of indigenous communities that continue to practice ceremonies that date back to the Aztec civilization.
Aztecs. Agriculture and commerce were the cornerstones of the Aztec economy. Agriculture was able to supply a large range of fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, chili peppers, pumpkins, and beans, which were essential for providing food for the large number of people living in the empire.
In modern times, those who are descended from the Aztecs are known to as Nahua. More than one and a half million Nahua people make their life in tiny settlements that are spread out throughout wide swaths of rural Mexico. These people make their living mostly by farming and sometimes by selling handicrafts.