The Horrific Varieties of Aztec Sacrifices
In regards to Aztec sacrifice, many people just think of the graphic heart-wrenching at the top of the towering temple, but there were many ways sacrifices were performed, often changing to suit a specific god. A key point to understand is that while prisoners of war were a huge source of victims, sacrifices were also gathered from all ranks of Aztec society. Noble children could be and were offered up for sacrifices.
The Aztec origin myths have them flaying and wearing the skin of great chief’s daughter as supposedly bestowing a great honor to the family, that particular king didn’t follow quite the same religion and ousted the Aztecs where they eventually found the site of Tenochtitlan.
During a day of sacrifice, the populace gathered at the base of the grand temple, but there were so many things to do and see aside from the main sacrifices atop that temple. While waiting for the victims atop the temple, many viewers would stab or bite themselves as their own sacrifices. Once the victims reached the top of the temple they were held down on a rounded stone that forced their chest upwards.
The priests well-practiced hands quickly cut into the abdomen and cut/ripped out the heart as quickly as possible. The crowd watched the beating fade along with the life of its owner. If it was a PoW the captor had rights to the body, otherwise, the remains were thrown down the high staircase to tenderize the meat. The torso was often sent as food to the various animals kept by the city (Cortez was amazed by Montezuma’s zoo) and the limbs were consumed by the masses.
While eating, the crowd might gather around another type of sacrifice, this time giving the victim at least the illusion of a fighting chance. The greatest of the captured warriors might find themselves chained to a pillar and facing four armed warriors, himself armed with a light club covered with feathers. The four warriors took no mercy and beat their victim to death, though occasionally the victim gave as good as he got and wounded or even killed one of the warriors.
This was a sacrifice to Tezcatlipoca, god of war, though he had many roles as one of the most powerful gods. Another victim for Tezcatlipoca was a volunteer who spent a year living as the living representative of the god. Given absolute reverence, respect, and the constant company of four beautiful women, the young man would end the festival and his year by marching himself up the steps of the temple and giving his life to the priests.
Xipe Totec (the flayed one) was a god of the seasons. His sacrifices involving shooting multiple arrows into a victim near a field. This would have been more away from the city but the blood leaking from the wounds supposedly represented the needed rainfall. Furthermore, victims of the flayed god were, understandably, flayed. The priests took pride in cutting the skin off in one piece. The skin was then worn by the priests for the duration of the monthly festivals, sometimes several weeks.
Going along with the seasons and the importance of rain, the rain god Tlaloc required children. On their way to be sacrificed by being burned alive, the children had to be crying to represent the rains falling. If the child wasn’t crying the priests often tore their fingernails off to get the desired result.
The victims here were burned a short while before being pulled out and consumed as well. Archeological findings suggest that victims were already suffering from painful conditions (large cavities, abscesses) and so the victims may have often been chosen because they cried frequently.