Music and Visual Arts
Visual Art and Music to the Aztecs was vital in keeping track and recording the details and importance of warfare and religion.
The Aztecs followed the same thread of visual arts as most Mesoamerican lands, specialising in stone structures, architecture, intricate pottery works, fabric and body art in geometrical designs and metal work. They were known to use a variety of vibrant, vivid colours to paint their structures and works. Exotic feathers were used to decorate headdresses, masks, mosaics and clothing.
In musical arts, ceramic flutes are known to be used to play alongside wooden drums known a tepoinaztlis and huehuetls . Aztec people believed that the only way to keep the gods content was to dance and sing, therefore music accompanied most prayer rituals.
The Aztecs followed the same thread of visual arts as most Mesoamerican lands, specialising in stone structures, architecture, intricate pottery works, fabric and body art in geometrical designs and metal work. They were known to use a variety of vibrant, vivid colours to paint their structures and works. Exotic feathers were used to decorate headdresses, masks, mosaics and clothing.
In musical arts, ceramic flutes are known to be used to play alongside wooden drums known a tepoinaztlis and huehuetls . Aztec people believed that the only way to keep the gods content was to dance and sing, therefore music accompanied most prayer rituals.
REligious rituals and customs
Aztec religious customs and traditions were unique and very brutal. Several traditions revolve around the sun, sacrifices, ceremonies and their vast array of gods and deities.
The Aztecs called themselves the “people of the sun”. The believed that they lived under the fifth and final sun and that when the sun died and failed to rise, the world would come to an end. An aztec myth states that each night the sun fights a battle with the moon and sacrifices would help the sun win then rise in the morning. They believed that without the blood of a human sacrifice each morning, the sun would not rise and the apocalypse would begin.
The Aztec gods would also expect sacrifices, offerings and sacrifices to keep them happy. Priests were in charge of organizing these affairs. It was said in 1519 that over 20,000 people were being killed and sacrificed each year. Aztec gods were thought to be demanding and would take it out on the people if their needs were not met. Some of these gods include; Tlalocm, the god of rain and water, Quetzalcoatl, god of wind and life, Chicomecoatl, goddess of agriculture, corn and nourishment, Tezcatlipoca, god of night, magic and earth and the most important to the Aztecs Huitzilopochtli, god of war, sun and human sacrifice. Other than sacrifice, the end of the world could be withheld with a celebration. Xiuhmolpilli, the “New Fire Ceremony” was celebrated every 52 years to stop the apocalypse.
Aztecs believed in the afterlife in a unique way too. It was thought that heaven was made up of levels and depending on who you were and how you died, you would go to a corresponding level of heaven.
The Aztecs called themselves the “people of the sun”. The believed that they lived under the fifth and final sun and that when the sun died and failed to rise, the world would come to an end. An aztec myth states that each night the sun fights a battle with the moon and sacrifices would help the sun win then rise in the morning. They believed that without the blood of a human sacrifice each morning, the sun would not rise and the apocalypse would begin.
The Aztec gods would also expect sacrifices, offerings and sacrifices to keep them happy. Priests were in charge of organizing these affairs. It was said in 1519 that over 20,000 people were being killed and sacrificed each year. Aztec gods were thought to be demanding and would take it out on the people if their needs were not met. Some of these gods include; Tlalocm, the god of rain and water, Quetzalcoatl, god of wind and life, Chicomecoatl, goddess of agriculture, corn and nourishment, Tezcatlipoca, god of night, magic and earth and the most important to the Aztecs Huitzilopochtli, god of war, sun and human sacrifice. Other than sacrifice, the end of the world could be withheld with a celebration. Xiuhmolpilli, the “New Fire Ceremony” was celebrated every 52 years to stop the apocalypse.
Aztecs believed in the afterlife in a unique way too. It was thought that heaven was made up of levels and depending on who you were and how you died, you would go to a corresponding level of heaven.
sOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL HISTORY AND SOCIAL INTERACTION
The social structure and social interaction within the Aztecs was based on a hierarchy,the belief in revenge and need for warfare.
The Aztec social pyramid contained the emperor at the top, three tiers below him and sub levels under each tier. The emperor held absolute power over the population. He lived a life of luxury surrounded by servants and wives. All that visited him were required to be barefoot in his presence and to bow their heads so not to gaze upon him. Following the emperor were the three main tiers. These tiers were made up of nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin) and serfs/slaves. The Noble class included governing/military leaders, high priests and lords. The common class included merchants, artisans, low-leveled priests and farmers. All common members of the community lived in Capulli (neighborhood wards) that were controlled by a noble and a group of elders.
Warfare was so vital for religious purposes, it became a central part of Aztec life. All men received basic training at a young age so the Aztecs had a large enough army if a war ever called for it. Wars could be started on any city/state if any member of the Aztec’s or an ally of them was killed there. Wars were also started over the acceptance and enforcement their religion and gods upon others. Failure to pay tribute to the Aztec king was also a just reason to commence war. If the other party did not comply, it was named a casus belli, A just reason for waging war. The Aztecs felt that if wars were not carried out, the world would end, as they relied on the prisoners of war as human sacrifices. Without prisoners to sacrifice, they would fail to please their gods and the sun would no longer rise. This gave reason to the Aztecs to seek conflict and war with others.
The Aztec social pyramid contained the emperor at the top, three tiers below him and sub levels under each tier. The emperor held absolute power over the population. He lived a life of luxury surrounded by servants and wives. All that visited him were required to be barefoot in his presence and to bow their heads so not to gaze upon him. Following the emperor were the three main tiers. These tiers were made up of nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin) and serfs/slaves. The Noble class included governing/military leaders, high priests and lords. The common class included merchants, artisans, low-leveled priests and farmers. All common members of the community lived in Capulli (neighborhood wards) that were controlled by a noble and a group of elders.
Warfare was so vital for religious purposes, it became a central part of Aztec life. All men received basic training at a young age so the Aztecs had a large enough army if a war ever called for it. Wars could be started on any city/state if any member of the Aztec’s or an ally of them was killed there. Wars were also started over the acceptance and enforcement their religion and gods upon others. Failure to pay tribute to the Aztec king was also a just reason to commence war. If the other party did not comply, it was named a casus belli, A just reason for waging war. The Aztecs felt that if wars were not carried out, the world would end, as they relied on the prisoners of war as human sacrifices. Without prisoners to sacrifice, they would fail to please their gods and the sun would no longer rise. This gave reason to the Aztecs to seek conflict and war with others.
Folktales and Myths
The Aztecs had hundreds of origin stories, myths and folktales. They talked of how and why things had come to be, talked about the current world, explained phenomenons and described religious beliefs. One of the most famous Aztec folktales was the Aztec creation story.
The Mother of the Aztec creation story was called Coatlique, lady of the skirt of snakes. The story begins when after being struck by an obsidian blade, Coatlique gives birth to Coyolxanuhqui, the moon goddess and other males who become the stars. After collecting a bundle of feathers then finding later on they were gone, Coatilque realized she was pregnant again. Her children the moon and the stars, still in denial about the whole situation and ashamed, the started to plot ways to kill their mother. Gods can only really give birth to one holy/sacred being and no more. While her children were plotting, she gave birth to Huitzilopochtli. Huitzilopochtli killed his siblings and dismembered Coyolxanuhqui with the help of a serpent. The cosmos were born from this scattering of moon and stars, the fall of the earth mother and the crushing of the heavens.
The Mother of the Aztec creation story was called Coatlique, lady of the skirt of snakes. The story begins when after being struck by an obsidian blade, Coatlique gives birth to Coyolxanuhqui, the moon goddess and other males who become the stars. After collecting a bundle of feathers then finding later on they were gone, Coatilque realized she was pregnant again. Her children the moon and the stars, still in denial about the whole situation and ashamed, the started to plot ways to kill their mother. Gods can only really give birth to one holy/sacred being and no more. While her children were plotting, she gave birth to Huitzilopochtli. Huitzilopochtli killed his siblings and dismembered Coyolxanuhqui with the help of a serpent. The cosmos were born from this scattering of moon and stars, the fall of the earth mother and the crushing of the heavens.