Aztec Religion

The Aztec religion grew simultaneously with the development of the civilization in the 14th and 15th century. Primarily the Aztecs were pagans, the most important characteristic of which is that they were nature worshippers. Aztec religion believes in the aspect human sacrifice. Aztec religion believe that in the past the world had been created and demolished by the gods four times.

Almost all their customs and traditions were based on the cycles of time and their concept of nature. They were always in awe of the forces of nature and therefore their chief aim was always to appease these forces, which they personified through various gods and goddesses. There were over hundred deities who were worshipped and revered by the Aztecs and each symbolized one of the forces of nature. To control the forces of nature was their chief aim as on them depended their growth and prosperity, as agriculture was their main occupation, which was mostly dependent on nature.

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The Aztec mythology contains quite a large array of gods and goddesses. While on the one hand we find the benevolent gods of fertility and birth, streams and beauty, on the other hand, we have the more malicious and awe inspiring gods of fire and the sun. However, there was very strict hierarchy, which was maintained in segregating the pantheon of Gods.

The highest rank among the gods was bestowed on Huitzpochtli, who was their god of fire and sun and on Tatloc, the god of rain, who was important from the context of their agriculture. Those gods who were androgynous and served to explain the concept of duality occupied the next segment of the hierarchical order. The rituals of the religion were closely associated with the life of the Aztecs. The deities were worshipped with the prayers, by offering sacrifices, and with some symbolic rituals and practices.

The alters or the temples of these deities were mostly pyramidal and typically we found in them the sacrificial stones known as the "techcatl", and the place for offering the prayers and the offerings and the ball game, which in their language was called "tlachtli". The Aztecs believed that birth of new life is only possible after death.

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