The Aztec Belief System: Gods, Sacrifice, and the Afterlife

The Second Sun was referred to as the Sun of Air-Ehecatl and was governed by Quetzalcoatl. It perished due to destructive winds. The inhabitants of this world were humans who, because of the destruction, turned into monkeys. The Third Sun, named Quiahuitl, was under the rule of the Rain God Tlaloc. Its ultimate destiny involved a rain of fire, which transformed the people into birds. The fourth sun, known as Atl, symbolized the water sun and was ruled by Tlaloc's sister Chalchiutlicue.

This world was destroyed by devastating floods and those who survived were changed into fish. Finally, there is the fifth and final sun called Ollin.

The current world we inhabit is believed to be governed by Tonatiuh, the sun god. This world marks the fifth endeavor of the Gods in creating Earth and is predicted to conclude with devastating earthquakes. The ancient Aztec religion placed great importance on preserving harmony within nature. Their core doctrines centered around the Five suns and Worlds, as well as the interconnection between Gods, Humans, and nature.

Get quality help now

Bella Hamilton

Verified writer

Proficient in: Aztec

5 (234)

“ Very organized ,I enjoyed and Loved every bit of our professional interaction ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

They firmly held the belief in a multilayered universe consisting of 13 heavens, 9 hells, and Earth.

The ancient Aztecs had various core beliefs. These included the belief in human sacrifice, the cyclical end of the world every 52 years, and the nightly struggle between the sun and darkness. They also had a strong faith in their Gods and believed in an Afterlife. Their worldview involved dividing the world into four quadrants, with Tenochtitlan at its center. The heavens were divided into 13 ascending layers, while the underworld consisted of nine descending layers.

The temple in Tenochtitlan served as a meeting point for heaven and earth.

According to the Aztecs, hell was a place characterized by darkness, fear, and misfortune, while heaven was reserved for a select few who would experience happiness. The determining factor for one's afterlife destination was not their way of life but rather the circumstances of their death. Those who died naturally were sent to a hell, whereas warriors slain in battle, women who died in childbirth, individuals who committed suicide, and those who were sacrificed were destined for heaven. The Aztecs placed great importance on human sacrifice, viewing it as a religious ceremony.

The Aztecs frequently performed ceremonies of sacrifice in either temples or on mountain tops. Sacrifice was a common practice for them, involving numerous victims such as men, women, children, and occasionally animals. The most prevalent form of sacrifice involved removing the heart. This action aimed to preserve cosmic order and please the gods. It was also seen as an ongoing repayment of the debt humans owed to the gods. The Aztecs worshipped multiple Gods and Goddesses, believing that offering human hearts and blood granted power to the deities and calmed their anger.

This paragraph emphasizes the significance of religion and the gods in Aztec society. The gods were portrayed as powerful natural forces and depicted as supernatural characters in codices. They played a crucial role in shaping the world through epic battles and were responsible for creating every aspect of the earth and heavens. Numerous gods ruled over various elements such as wind, fire, water, along with gods linked to childbirth, disease, misfortune, the sun, moon, and stars. The Aztecs worshipped countless gods and goddesses who oversaw human activities and aspects of nature like the sun and rain.

The Aztecs believe that the Gods have control over all aspects of life, both positive and negative. They attribute good things like rain for crop growth and bad things like disease and drought to the Gods. The Aztecs emphasize the importance of recognizing the power of the Gods in order to avoid potential disasters caused by their anger. To honor the Gods, they built monuments, temples, and statues and performed sacrifices as offerings. One of the supernatural creatures revered by the Aztecs is Huitzilopochtli, who is worshipped as the God of war, the rising sun, and a special protector of Tenochtitlan. It is believed that Huitzilopochtli fights against darkness each night and is reborn every morning.

There was no certainty that the sun would emerge as victorious, hence sacrifices were made by humans. The sun is invariably depicted as a warrior, donning a cotton suit meant for battles. Additionally, he carries a shield and a fiery snake. Both his body and garments are adorned with blue paint. Quetzalcoatl, formerly a white-skinned and bearded priest, is the wind God. Originating from the east, he made a promise of his eventual return. This God, associated with civilization and knowledge, adorns the semblance of a serpent mask along with a hat embellished with quetzal bird feathers. Tlaloc, the primary rain God in agriculture, provides the precipitation needed for crops to flourish. In addition to controlling storms and lightning, Tlaloc also governs thunder.

He is depicted with a snake-shaped lightning in one hand, while in the other hand he holds an axe that creates thunderbolts. The roar of thunder is symbolized by the jaguar occasionally emanating from his mouth. Tlaloc always has distinctive goggle eyes and long teeth. Tezcatlipoca, on the other hand, served as the Aztec God of night and all things material. One of his notable possessions was a magic mirror that emitted smoke and was capable of killing enemies, hence earning him the title "God of smoking mirror". Rather than leading individuals into wickedness, he challenged their minds with temptations as a means of assessing their character. Additionally, he served as the God of the north, responsible for punishing evil and rewarding goodness.

The text discusses various aspects of the Aztec religion, including their gods and rituals. The Aztecs worshiped gods and goddesses who were associated with beauty, war, heroes, and lovely girls. However, these gods also had mysterious powers and often appeared as magicians or shape shifters. The Aztec religion was famous for its rituals, which involved human sacrifices. The belief was that the gods sacrificed themselves to provide the necessities of life to the Aztecs, and in return, they sought human blood. Human sacrifices were the most prominent form of ritual in Aztec culture.

The Aztecs incorporated various rituals into their culture, including body skinning, heart removal, and human sacrifice. They believed that by performing these rituals, they could satisfy the gods' bloodthirst. In return, the gods would continue to bless the Aztecs. An Aztec god named Xipe Totec played a significant role in their beliefs. He sacrificed himself by cutting off his own skin to ensure the prosperity of corn, which was vital for the survival of the Aztecs. Thus, during the Spring Equinox each year, captive warriors were given to Xipe Totec's priests to be sacrificed.

The priests of the Aztecs performed a ritual called "body skinning" on captive warriors. They would remove the skin in one piece, which was then worn by the priests for at least 20 days. This act was seen as a "celebration of life" and a reflection of the belief that Xipe Totec, the god, represented fertility and rebirth. After the 20 day period, the priests would destroy the skin, often through burning, as it imitated the sound of corn germinating its seeds.

Heart Removal Huitzilopochtli, the sun God worshipped by the Aztecs, provided heat, light, and fertilizing energy to the civilization. In their belief system, the Aztecs considered blood to be the most valuable offering to the sun. However, they did not offer the usual form of human blood. Instead, they presented beating human hearts as a sacrifice in exchange for the Sun's blessings. The ritual of "heart removal" took place on top of Aztec pyramids, where priests utilized a volcanic flint instrument resembling a knife but with a sharper edge than a scalpel.

The Aztecs would lay a captive on bloody altars and use a "knife" to rip out their still beating heart as an offering to Huitzilopochtli. They believed that all hearts were acceptable, but the gods preferred those from the bravest captives. This belief led to warring in order to find worthy sacrifices. While some Aztec practitioners only sacrificed one person, it was more common to sacrifice hundreds or even thousands of captives at once.

The sacrifices performed on a regular basis eventually evolved into recognized rituals. However, all these sacrifices were carried out in a similar manner. Captives or groups of captives were taken to a pyramid or temple and placed on an altar where rituals were conducted, resulting in blood stains on these altars. After each ritual, the bodies were pushed down the steps of the pyramid or temple, except for those captives who displayed exceptional nobility and bravery. These individuals were instead carried down. This practice had a significant impact on the society.

The Aztecs integrated deities, stories, and beliefs from prior civilizations and the Maya of southern Mexico into their own religious system. This led to Aztec mythology encompassing religious and mythological traditions that were shared by different groups in Mexico and Central America. However, the Aztecs specifically emphasized certain aspects of their religion, particularly human sacrifice. The religion practiced by the Aztec empire is called Aztec religion, and similar to other Mesoamerican religions, it included human sacrifice during various religious festivals following the patterns of the Aztec calendar.

The Aztecs had a vast and expanding collection of gods, frequently assimilating deities from different regions or cultures into their religion. In Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire, each god possessed their own temple, like Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli at the Templo Mayor. The Aztecs regularly reenacted sacred occurrences through rituals, where individuals would assume the roles of gods and be revered accordingly. These rituals and ceremonies were connected to diverse aspects of Aztec existence.

The Aztecs practiced worship through various means such as offerings, prayers, symbolic acts, games, and sacrifices. They had daily rituals related to food and gratitude, which were conducted in either round or pyramidal temples. These temples were also equipped with courts for the ball game and sacrificial stones, as well as other designated areas for different types of rituals and ceremonies. While the specifics of the rituals varied depending on the location, they generally followed a standard format involving preparation, fasting, purification, and offerings. Finally, the blood sacrifice held great significance for the Aztec culture.

For the Aztecs, death was necessary for new life to emerge. They built a comprehensive empire encompassing intricate social, religious, artistic, and scientific systems. Aztec society was stratified based on roles and class. To appease the gods, the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice and made remarkable advancements in science, art, and language. Mexico continues to be deeply influenced by the rich mythology of the Aztecs, evident in the arts and public life. Moreover, the concept of fate was intricately tied to the Aztecs' use of the calendar.

Both the Aztecs and the Maya utilized intricate methods for recording dates, employing two calendars. The first calendar, rooted in the position of the sun, consisted of 365 days and served as a solar calendar. The second calendar, known as the ritual calendar, encompassed 260 days and was specifically utilized for divination purposes. Each day within the ritual calendar involved a distinct combination of gods and goddesses, whose influences determined an individual's destiny. Divination encompassed the interpretation of these influences, discerning their positive or negative implications. Moreover, priests harnessed the ritual calendar to select auspicious days for various activities, including constructing buildings, cultivating crops, and engaging in warfare.