AZTECS

LIVE

The Aztecs were Nahuatl speaking groups living in central Mexico and much of
their mythology is similar to that of other Mesoamerican cultures. According to
legend, the various groups who were to become the Aztecs arrived from the north
into the Anahuac valley around Lake Texcoco.

There are different accounts of their origin. In the myth the ancestors of the
Mexica/Aztec came from a place in the north called Aztlan, the last of seven
nahuatlacas to make the journey southward, hence their name "Azteca." Other
accounts cite their origin in Chicomostoc, "the place of the seven caves," or at
Tamoanchan (the legendary origin of all civilizations).

The Aztecs considered themselves the chosen people of the sun, responsible for
guaranteeing its journey across the sky, feeding. This feeling was reinforced by the
social and religious reform Tlacaelel under the reign of the emperor Itzcoatl,
Moctezuma I and Axayacatl mid fifteenth century.

Agriculture was the base of economic life Aztec. Corn was the for excellence food
plant, whose grain cooked in various ways: tortillas, tamales, atole, etc. Besides
corn, planted also rijol, squash, tomatoes, chia and huauhtli. Grain brought from
elsewhere to complete the supply of Tenochtitlan, and subtropical regions chili,
cocoa, vanilla, honey, snuff t other products.

Obtained maguey pulque, the intoxicating drink of the Aztecs and most villages in
the valley, and the worms that plant breeding. Palntas collected and edible herbs
and various fruits, such as tunas of various kinds. Lake Texcoco gave them salt as
a seasoning in their food.

ANIMALS and HUNT

They had few domestic animals, only turkeys and dogs gorged to comercelos,
dogs of a certain species which are often-called hairless dogs.

Because then the Valley of Mexico, a region essentially the custre had great
potential for fishing and fowling caught Mexica, using hooks, spears and spear-
thrower (atlatl) various fish and ducks, also collected larbas of frogs, eggs
mosquito and algae.

From poles driven into the lake bottom hung networks served to trap birds. For
hunting deer, hares, rabbits and land birds used the bow and arrow, the blowpipe
and fixed networks or manuals. But hunting was a ceremonial activity and noble
sport among the Aztecs.

Gods:
Coatlicue: Earth goddess and mother of Huitzilopochtli. In Aztec legends, is
represented as the earth mother gives birth to her divine solar son after a long
night, representing the day-night cycle.
Huitzilopochtli "hummingbird lefty": God of war and patron of the Aztecs. All the
conquests made by the Aztecs, were in his name. He was portrayed with a
hummingbird helmet on his head and left leg covered with feathers of the same
bird. In Mexica myths he is considered one of the four creator gods, and Huey
Teocalli was dedicated to him and Tlaloc. Is important his role of guide during
the peregrination of the Aztecs.
Tezcatlipoca "black mirror that smokes": God who gave and took away wealth.
He was the protector of the slaves. One of the four creator gods in Aztec
mythology. The slave who was sacrificed was dressed in his likeness and was
treated as if it were the same for one year.
Quetzalcoatl "precious feather snake": Deity known throughout Mesoamerica.
One of the four creator gods. To Him is due the invention of the arts and the
flourishing of the city of Tollan. In the myths, he is the one that obtained the
maize for men recently formed.
Xipe Totec "Our flayed lord": He was considered the god of fertility, spring and
renewal of the flora. As one of the oldest and most respected gods in ancient
Mexico, is incorporated in myths as one of the four creator gods. In the Aztec
pantheon was represented wearing the skin of a recently skinned man. Xipe
Totec was believed to cure eye diseases. The aztecs believed that he cured the
eye diseases.
Xiuhtecuhtli "god of fire": Created by Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, in the
codices is represented with his face smeared and streaked with yellow rubber.
Attributed to the destruction of the third sun with a rain of fire. Was related to
the year, and every 52 years was celebrated in a ceremony called Toxiuhmolpilli
"bondage of years." In the month of Izcalli, people sacrificed their images
green, yellow, white and red, in addition to the so-called Ilhuipaneca Temiloca,
women and Nancotlacauhqui Cihuatontli.
Mixcoatl "cloud serpent": God of the Milky Way. He was revered by hunters
Nordic plains, especially the Chichimeca. Was represented by a man dressed in
yellow with red stripes, and in one hand he carried a basket, among other
things. On the feast of the god is sacrificed to a woman with his image. It was
often identified with Xipe Totec, especially about the fate of those sacrificed in
gladiatorial sacrifice.
 Tonatiuh "the luminous" Sun God. It was the ultimate source of energy in the
universe. He anthropomorphic and symbolically represented. It is illustrated
with an eagle feather headdress on the front that had a head of an eagle and
red face paint. It was very common for your body ollin represent the symbol of
the sun. It was a pretty fierce warrior god.
Metztli "of the bells in the face": Moon Goddess, dedicated to Coyolxauhqui,
who was sister of Huitzilopochtli and therefore one of the most important
goddesses in Aztec mythology. According to legend, she tried to kill his mother
and brother coatlicue newborn, but Metztli killed her and her four brothers at the
foot of the hill of the star.
Tlaloc "Rain God": He was the patron saint of farmers. One of the oldest gods
of Mesoamerica. Was represented with a sort of circular glasses consist of two
intertwined serpents whose fangs jaws became the god. His face painted in the
black and blue and sometimes dirty yellow. His clothes were stained with drops
of hula representing raindrops. In the month of Atemoztli was offered a sacrifice
of children, men and dogs.
Ehecatl "wind god": This was the representation of Quetzalcoatl in his advocacy
of wind god, who was also announced the rains; the god's face was covered
with a large beak mask with which the wind blew clearing the path for tlaloque,
under the rain gods.

Cinteotl "goddess of young corn": This deity could assume male or female.
According to the Nahuatl cosmogony, born from the union of Xochiquetzal and
Piltzintecuhtli. He celebrated with Chicomecoatl goddess, in the months of huey
and huey Tozoztli tecuilhuitl, a captive was sacrificed in his honor.

*Hummingbird lefty: Colibr zurdo