The Aztecs

The Mexica believed in many gods who controlled, maintained or affected every aspect of the world. Because of the great importance placed on the gods, every town or city had at least a small temple or shrine. It is believed that these temples functioned as the administrative heart of the city where all religious and political actions took place.

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The Aztec pantheon was comprised of hundred of gods, sometimes different aspects of the natural world triggered multiple versions or interpretations of a deity.  Like many other Mesoamerican civilizations, the Aztecs often incorporated gods from other regions and civilizations, so their pantheon was ever growing. In the same fashion, conquered tribes would fuse their deities with their equivalent in the Aztec pantheon, thus creating new deities with basically the same characteristics. For example, there are multiple versions of the Moon deity, sometimes as a male (Tecciztecatl) but more often as a female (Metzli, Yohaulticetl and Coyolxauhqui).

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As the gods provided life, the Mexica sacrificed life for the gods in return. Blood was particularly regarded as the most precious substance capable to give life as it was found on all living beings (plants being regarded differently as part of nature). Sacrificial offerings included personal bloodletting and human sacrifices at important ceremonies. Bloodletting and self-harm, for example from the ears and legs using bone or maguey spines and the burning of blood-soaked paper strips, were a common form of blood fueled sacrifice. Human sacrifice was performed in special ceremonies and to gain the favor of the most important gods. While some human sacrifices were voluntary, the majority were from prisoners of the "Xochiyaoyotl" commonly referred as "Flower Wars". This was a system of ritual battles for the main purpose of acquiring sacrificial victims and increasing the prestige of participating warriors.

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Contrary to popular belief, not all gods required or were honored with blood offerings. Precious goods, which were willingly handed over for the gods to enjoy were another form of personal sacrifice. In this category were foodstuffs and objects crafted from precious metals, flowers, jade, obsidian, incense and shells which could be ritually buried, burned or consumed in honor of the gods.

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Major Gods of the Aztec Pantheon

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The following are just a few of the most iconic gods from the Aztec pantheon. As mentioned before, the Aztec had hundreds of gods and sometimes a god could have multiple attributes. Such is the case of Tezcatlipoca "The Smoking Mirror", this major deity was so complex that we can find him in several incarnations like Nécoc Yaotl, "Enemy", referring to his destructive side, Telpochtli "Male Youth", classed him as patron of the Telpochcalli, school for commoners. Additionally, he was called Yohualli Ehécatl, "Night Wind", Ome Acatl, "Two Reed", and Ilhuicahua Tlalticpaque, "Possessor of Sky and Earth".

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