Aztec human sacrifice

Human Sacrifice of the Aztecs

 

 

 

                Human Sacrifice formed a major part of the Aztec culture and later influenced the lifestyle and art of this culture in Mesoamerica.  In these rituals of sacrifice, a human was killed and the body was offered to the gods.  Being a polytheistic people, the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice quite. 

                These sacrifices were offered to one of the many gods to keep them ‘happy’ so he keeps doing what he should.  For example, if one year there was a great harvest of corn, but the next nearly all crops withered and died.  The primary thought of the Aztecs was that the god of corn was ‘angry’ and wanted a sacrifice.  The result was the Aztecs offered several people, usually young adults and virgins, and hoped to fulfill the hunger of the god. 

 

-          Form of the sacrifice; Sacrifices were performed by special people, somewhat like priests, and they were performed usually to young adults, children, and virgins.  The best “quality” of people were offered in hopes to gain liking of a god. 

o   These were often performed in terrible and inhumane ways; examples:

§  Heart torn out; the victim had a cavity carved into his or her chest, and the performer of the sacrifice would tear the victim’s heart out of the chest, all while the victim is still alive.  Also, this was the most common among the Aztecs

§  Beheading; Not much explanation needed, the victim was tied and beheaded with a sword like weapon

§  Weeping boys, skinned alive; For this ritual, children were the victim.  They were sometimes shot with arrows beforehand, but remained alive at the time they were skinned.  The more the victim suffered, it was thought the more effective the offering was.

This image shows the sacrificial ceremony held in honor the Aztec gods.  The heart was torn out of the body while the victim was still alive, in order to make the victim suffer and make the sacrifice more efficacious, as was the belief at the time.

 

 

 

 

This apparent cartoon shows all the main gods to whom sacrifices were probably offered. 

Aztec Art

Aztecs: Recognizable Artistic Geniuses

 

 

 

What was ancient Aztec art like?

The art of the Aztecs was influenced by hundreds or even thousands of years of artistry of this very culture.  Techniques and themes changed over time with little to no external influence from other cultures. 

Aztec art was primarily a form of religious expression and a means for paying tribute to one’s gods.

-          Although primarily a religious expression, art was also a means of communication for the Aztecs

o   Art such as pictographs can still be seen on the walls of their temples.

§  Pictographs were small pictures that represented objects or sounds

§  These Aztec drawings were used extensively within their counting system

-          The most famous and recognized Aztec pictograph is the Aztec calendar

o   365 Day calendar much like, if not identical, to our modern calendar

o   It is also a form of art

§  In the center, an image of an Aztec god is shown with extreme attention to detail.

 

 

       

Pottery:

-          Pottery of the Aztecs was not only useful to the Aztecs; it was an important religious craft within the Aztec arts.

-          Pottery of all shapes and sizes depicted a variety of designs that were meaningful to the Aztec culture and religion.

-          The designs typically placed on the pottery were meant to depict or pay reverence to specific Aztec gods or to represent an Aztec tribe.

o   Pottery could be as simple as a rustic plate, or elaborate like this pot:

*Noteworthy: all Aztec culture is strongly based upon religion                       : (not ancient Aztec plate)

 

Sculpture:

-          Primary sculpting material was stone

-          Aztecs showed their deep religion through a variety of sculptures made of stones

-          Days were spent carving freestanding idols as well as relief wall sculptures to be placed within their temples.

o   The stone sculptures were created to represent their gods or the sacrificial victims.

§  Aztecs meticulously carved small realistic figures of animals and people out of jade, obsidian, and quartz.

 

Artistic Rituals:

-          Ceremonies and rituals such as sacrificial rituals formed are the most important part of all the Aztec culture, since culture is based on religion, thus making rituals the lifestyle of the Aztecs. 

-          Craftsmen were called upon to make items specialized for use in religious ceremonies;

o   Best examples include: Aztec masks and warrior art  

*Masks were used in religious ceremonies such as human sacrifice rituals

 

What did we Learn???

Art is just as important as religion or even survival for the Aztecs

 

Work Cited:

 

"The Aztecs." Aztec Indians. N.p., 2010. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

 "Appealing--Aztec Masks." AvaxNews. Avax, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

Mursell, Ian. "Mexicolore." Aztec Pottery. Mexicolore, 16 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

 

 

 

Aztecs: Recognizable Artistic Geniuses

 

 

 

What was ancient Aztec art like?

The art of the Aztecs was influenced by hundreds or even thousands of years of artistry of this very culture.  Techniques and themes changed over time with little to no external influence from other cultures. 

Aztec art was primarily a form of religious expression and a means for paying tribute to one’s gods.

-          Although primarily a religious expression, art was also a means of communication for the Aztecs

o   Art such as pictographs can still be seen on the walls of their temples.

§  Pictographs were small pictures that represented objects or sounds

§  These Aztec drawings were used extensively within their counting system

-          The most famous and recognized Aztec pictograph is the Aztec calendar

o   365 Day calendar much like, if not identical, to our modern calendar

o   It is also a form of art

§  In the center, an image of an Aztec god is shown with extreme attention to detail.

 

 

       

Pottery:

-          Pottery of the Aztecs was not only useful to the Aztecs; it was an important religious craft within the Aztec arts.

-          Pottery of all shapes and sizes depicted a variety of designs that were meaningful to the Aztec culture and religion.

-          The designs typically placed on the pottery were meant to depict or pay reverence to specific Aztec gods or to represent an Aztec tribe.

o   Pottery could be as simple as a rustic plate, or elaborate like this pot:

*Noteworthy: all Aztec culture is strongly based upon religion                       : (not ancient Aztec plate)

 

Sculpture:

-          Primary sculpting material was stone

-          Aztecs showed their deep religion through a variety of sculptures made of stones

-          Days were spent carving freestanding idols as well as relief wall sculptures to be placed within their temples.

o   The stone sculptures were created to represent their gods or the sacrificial victims.

§  Aztecs meticulously carved small realistic figures of animals and people out of jade, obsidian, and quartz.

 

Artistic Rituals:

-          Ceremonies and rituals such as sacrificial rituals formed are the most important part of all the Aztec culture, since culture is based on religion, thus making rituals the lifestyle of the Aztecs. 

-          Craftsmen were called upon to make items specialized for use in religious ceremonies;

o   Best examples include: Aztec masks and warrior art  

*Masks were used in religious ceremonies such as human sacrifice rituals

 

What did we Learn???

Art is just as important as religion or even survival for the Aztecs

 

Work Cited:

 

"The Aztecs." Aztec Indians. N.p., 2010. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

 "Appealing--Aztec Masks." AvaxNews. Avax, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

Mursell, Ian. "Mexicolore." Aztec Pottery. Mexicolore, 16 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.