The AZTECS' MYTHOLOGY

The Aztec
mythology
BY CAMPOS ZEPEDA REBECA

According to a survey
12%
conducted in
November of 2019, the
knowledge that the
students of the
"Preparatoria 6 Antonio
Caso" say to have
about the Aztec
mythology is almost
null, the 88% of
88%
88%
students admit not to
know as much as they
would want about the
topic.
In the present article, we try to give a general view about the theme:
Aztec Mythology, checking also, their idea of world creation, their
worldview, their temples and religion, and the most important gods
they had; due to this information, as well as interviews with masters in
history and literature, we will give a conclusion about the importance
of knowing about the Pre-Hispanic cultures, all with the purpose of
promote this information.
The Aztecs, also known as Mexicas or Tenochcas in Spanish, were a

culture developed especially in the post-classical era (600 CE-1450
CE).
How the world was created?
In their view, the world was a giant monster resembling to an alligator,
and in its top, the soil had originated gods, a god called Quetzalcóatl (in
English, Feathered Serpent) discovered the corn, and with it, he created
the humans as we know them today. It is important to clarify that
Aztecs saw the life as a cycle, even the life of the world, the world died
and reborn every lapse of time that it was necessary, these cycles were
called ‘Soles’, in English, Suns.
How did they view the world?
For the Aztecs, the cosmos was composed of opposing and
complementary forces, they could be female, aquatic, terrestrial,
and cold, versus male, fiery, celestial and hot. These forces
needed each other, for when they came together, they gave rise
to movement. Just as the sun displaced darkness and the moon,
die at dusk giving rise to nighttime; or the rainy season (the
planting season) that led to the dry season (the time for
war). Forces formed part of all beings and followed
in succession in a never-ending spiral.
Heaven and hell? How did

they view their gods?
The temples were designed The temples were used to
to be the center of their rituals to offer the gods their
model of the universe, where lives through sacrifices, and
the horizontal plane other gifts. They offered the
converged with the vertical gods that things because
plane. The horizontal plan gods were responsible for the
was aligned with the four continual death and reborn of
cardinal points or directions the world, and if Aztecs didn’t
of the universe, according to make sacrifices and offerings,
their worldview. On the gods could lose their temper
vertical plane there were and destroy the world to
thirteen celestial levels, the create a new sun.
earth, and nine levels of the
underworld.
Images: a temple and a knife used for sacrifices.
The wars were crucial to the sacrifices, because even if some of the
sacrificed were warriors who wanted to give their lives to gods, they
weren’t enough, consequently, they used to conquest and
capture prisoners to sacrifice.
As we can see, both, the religion and the war, were decisive
for the Aztecs, and extremely important to their lives.
In conclusion, the sacrifice was an honor, because it was the
most sacred way to relate to the divine world, the sacrifice
allowed and assure the creation of the fifth sun, and the
support of the gods to the wellness of Aztecs.
Gods of creation and elements
Coatlicue Ehécatl
Mother of all gods God of the wind
Tláloc Chalchiuhtlicue
God of the rain God of the stagnant
water
Tlaltecuhtli Xiuhtecuhtli
God of the earth and God of the fire
soil
Gods of CELESTIAL BODIES
Tonatiuh Coyolxauhqui
God of the sun God of the moon
Gods of PHENOMENA
Micctecacíhuatl y Huitzilopochtli
Mictlantecuhtli God of the war
Gods of the underworld
"In my opinion, I find so much more interesting and

thrilling the Aztec mythology in contrast to the religion
that was imposed after the conquest, also, as a
woman, the aztec mythology has female gods, not only
men, and the image of women is not pure and angelic,
is the image of power and strength, instead os the
immaculate Virgin Mary, I prefer a warrior goddess,
such as the Coatlicue."
Meztli Ávila Sánchez

Master in Literature
"The science of the Pre-Hispanic culture is underrated,
as a country with a large diversity of plants, the
medicine was based in them, and even better, it
worked! When the conquerors arrived, our medicine
was more efficient than their, we didn't have their
advances and technology, but sure we knew how to
heal the body, the problem became with the new
illness they brought with them..."
Gilberto Barrera López

PhD in History of Art
"The Mexican have been always trying to find

himself, without realising that the answer is in his
own motherland, how is it possible that we feel like
foreigners in our own land?, we need to know our
country, to travel, to listen, to talk with people and
to know each other, we are such a young country, it
is true, but if we don't discover ourselves, who else
will?"
Rosa M. M. Canales
Degree in Literature
The re-value of the Pre-Hispanic Culture, a lot of times
overshadowed by the conquest that Mexico suffered, in body and
soul, is necessary, not only for learn about the world around us, but
for learn about ourselves; face to our roots will helps us to consider
and become aware of the ideals that had been imposed, and that
consciousness will set us free to choose if we want to follow them.
We always look up to see the beautiful eastern temples that impress

us, the Hawaiian beaches which melt us, the European castles that
take us to another time, but for each thing we adore about the world
outside, we are losing of sight a thing about our own country, is not
about only worship Mexico, because all countries have precious
places and people, is about knowing our own beauty before trying to
look for it anywhere else.
The study of the Pre-Hispanic culture invite us to learn about the

world around us, understand how we became what we are now, but
most important, it is an exhortation to embrace our roots, and start
enjoying everything that has been inherited to us.
"As long as the world remains

The glory and the fame won't end
Of Mexico-Tenochtitlan."
Culhuacan memorials
Resources
Portilla, M. L. (2018). Los Antiguos Mexicanos (8ª ed.). Ciudad de México,
México: UNAM.
Sigal y Moiseev, S., Marcovich, E., & Alazraki, R. (1989). Historia de la
cultura y del arte. CDMX, México: Alhambra.
Museo del Templo Mayor
Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia

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What were the Aztec's views on how the world was created?

How did the Aztecs view the forces that made up the cosmos?

The Aztec

BY CAMPOS ZEPEDA REBECA

The Aztecs, also known as Mexicas or Tenochcas in Spanish, were a

Heaven and hell? How did

Gods of CELESTIAL BODIES

"In my opinion, I find so much more interesting and

Meztli Ávila Sánchez

Gilberto Barrera López

"The Mexican have been always trying to find

We always look up to see the beautiful eastern temples that impress

The study of the Pre-Hispanic culture invite us to learn about the

"As long as the world remains

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