Sacrifice was a common theme in the Aztec culture. In the legend of the "Five Suns", all the gods sacrificed themselves so that mankind could live.

May 3, 2018 · The religion of the Aztec civilization which flourished in ancient Mesoamerica (1345 to 1521 CE) has gained an infamous reputation for bloodthirsty human sacrifice with lurid tales …

Oct 11, 2018 · When the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men arrived in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán in 1521, they described witnessing a grisly ceremony. Aztec priests, …

Sep 18, 2025 · Human sacrifice took many forms in Aztec ritual, each associated with specific gods, festivals, and symbolic meanings. The most iconic was the offering of a heart on the …

Feb 14, 2025 · This article explores the religious, political, and social dimensions of ritual sacrifice in Aztec society, drawing from archaeological findings, primary sources, and scholarly …

May 9, 2024 · At its core, Aztec sacrifice was the act of offering gifts to the gods in the form of blood. As such, its performance was intrinsically rooted in Aztec religion. The Mexica believed …

May 26, 2024 · The Aztec practice of human sacrifice was deeply rooted in their cosmology and creation myth. According to Aztec legend, the gods Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca sacrificed …

Jun 21, 2018 · For the Mexica, human sacrifice was key to the health of the world. Recent finds show that a vast rack of skulls (reconstruction below) stood in a temple at the heart of their …

Oct 26, 2024 · Human sacrifice was not merely a barbaric practice; it held deep religious significance, symbolizing the connection between the divine and the earthly realm. For the …

Feb 4, 2020 · According to Aztec mythology, the sun god Huitzilopochtli required constant nourishment in the form of human blood to prevent the rise of darkness and the end of the …