The Sacred Landscape

1. The Sacred Landscape

2. Aztec Gods • The Aztecs believed that the gods controlled every aspect of their world and lives • As such, they looked to the gods for signs as to how to live their life • The Aztecs believed in many gods, which means they were a polytheisticsociety as opposed to a monotheistic one • They believed that some gods were greater than others, however • This helps us understand their values and culture

3. Group Assignment • Please form into groups of around 4 • Need to have 5 groups • You will be reading a small description of an Aztec god or goddess and then answering some questions • You will then be teaching the class about your god or goddess

4. The Aztec Calendars • The Aztec calendar emphasized the close connection between gods and human beings, and between the physical and sacred landscapes • There were two calendars: solar calendar and a sacred calendar • Solar: 365 days, follows the seasons • Sacred: was 260 days long; took it 52 years to “catch up” with the solar calendar • The great stone calendar (15th C) was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli • The Aztecs believed that there were four eras before the present one and each had been destroyed • Jaguars, hurricanes, fiery rain, flood • The fifth will be destroyed by earthquakes

5. How it Works: • Think of two wheels joined together • First wheel is numbered 1-13 • Second wheel has twenty glyphs, or symbols on it • In the starting position, number one and the first glyph are lined up • Then the second glyph and number two • After 13 days of this, a week has passed • The first wheel starts back at one, whereas the second wheel goes on to the fourteenth glyph • After 260 days of this, the wheel is back at the one beginning position

6. Human Sacrifice • Why did they believe it was necessary to give gods human blood? • It had a deeply religious significance for the Aztecs • It was the strongest expression of their devotion to the gods • They believed the blood nourished the gods • They would die without it • The world would end • War was important because it gave an opportunity to capture new people for sacrifice • Think-Pair-Share: What do you think of human sacrifice? Does it make sense in this context? Why or why not?

7. New Fire Ceremony • The New Fire ceremony is an important religious ceremony which took place every 52 years • It had to be performed correctly or they thought the world would end • All fires would be put out, thrusting the empire into darkness • They people would also fast • A sacred flame was then lit at the top of Uixachtlan, a sacred mountain • Citizens would wait on their roofs until a courier came and lit all other fires from this important fire

8. Historical Perspectives on Aztec Religion • [Cortes] said to Montezuma [sic] through our interpreter, half laughing: “Senor Montezuma, I do not understand how such a great Prince and wise man as you are has not come to the conclusion, in your mind, that these idols of yours are not gods, but evil things that are called devils, and so that you may know it and all your priests may see it clearly, do me the favour to approve of my placing a cross here on the top of this tower . . . and you will see by the fear in which these Idols hold it that they are deceiving you.” • - Bernal Dial des Castillo, The Discovery of the Conquest of Mexico Montezuma [sic] replied half angrily (and the two priests who were with him showed great annoyance), and said: “Senor [Cortes], if I had known that you would have said such defamatory things I would not have shown you my gods. We consider them to be very good, for they give us health and rains and good seed times and seasons and as many victories as we desire, and we are obliged to worship them and make sacrifices, and I pray you not say another word to their dishonour.” - Bernal Dias del Castillos, The Discovery of the Conquest of Mexico Q: What do these two quotes tell us about Spanish society and Aztec society? Q: What do they tell us about cultural contact?

9. Tenochtitlan: The Centre of the World • The Aztecs believed that the world was a round, flat disc • It was divided into four sections • Tenochtitlan was situated in the middle, where the four sections met • Why would they think this? • Tenochtitlan itself was also divided into four sections • This symbolized the four cardinal directions • In the middle of the city was a square which contained many temples, one of which was the Great Temple • What does this structure tell us about their worldview?

10. Tenochtitlan Continued • The Aztecs believed that their gods lived in the skies • With this in mind, why would many of their temples be on mountains? • The Aztecs were an urban people, so they needed to have temples built in their cities • Tenochtitlan had hundreds of temples, many in the preferred pyramid shape • The Great Temple, also called Temple Mayor, was the most important • It was dedicated to two gods (Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc)

11. Homework /10 • 1) Create a web which shows how important religion was to the Aztecs. Provide four main points and then information explaining each point further, with examples, etc. See below. /6 • 2) What do you think of Aztec sacrifice? What is your response to it? Is it evil? Understandable? Where do you stand? /2 Religion