What religion did the Aztecs believe in?
Gods.
Religion almost completely controlled the Aztecs lives. There were many gods/goddesses that the Aztecs believed in. Huitzilopochtli (war and sun god), Tezcatlipoca (Chief god of the Texcoco), Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent, god and learning of priesthood).
Religion almost completely controlled the Aztecs lives. There were many gods/goddesses that the Aztecs believed in. Huitzilopochtli (war and sun god), Tezcatlipoca (Chief god of the Texcoco), Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent, god and learning of priesthood).
These were the 3 main gods that the Aztecs worshipped. The Aztecs had some other very important gods/goddesses like Tlaloc (the rain god) god of all sources of water and Chalchihuitlicue (water goddess).
Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlaloc
Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlaloc
Priests & temples.
Each god had a temple, they were built to worship the many Aztec gods. The temples were built in the form of step pyramids, they had two staircases which each led to, two different shrines. The Aztecs priests played a very important role in the
Each god had a temple, they were built to worship the many Aztec gods. The temples were built in the form of step pyramids, they had two staircases which each led to, two different shrines. The Aztecs priests played a very important role in the
Image from: http://clccharter.org/sarah1/aztecgovernment.html
Aztec time and were considered to be quite well respected people. The priests had many roles, they acted as the teachers of religion, repairing temples and keeping them clean, the translators of the gods and they directed all festivals and celebrations.
Human sacrifices.
The priests also lead the human sacrifices. The Aztecs believed that to repay their gods for their own sacrifices of creating the earth and sun, was through human sacrifices. Fortunately the Aztecs were good with battle so they would use their captured enemies as the sacrifices, however,
The priests also lead the human sacrifices. The Aztecs believed that to repay their gods for their own sacrifices of creating the earth and sun, was through human sacrifices. Fortunately the Aztecs were good with battle so they would use their captured enemies as the sacrifices, however,
Image from: http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/aztefacts/and-one-to-hold-the-head
if there were no enemies being held captive children may have been sacrificed. In the process of the sacrifice the victim’s abdomen was cut open and the priest would reach in to pull out the heart, to present to the gods. On average twenty thousand people were sacrificed per year.
Image from: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/aztec-human-sacrifice.htm