What was the purpose of the Aztec temples?

What was the purpose of the Aztec temples?

The teocalli, or pyramid-temples, were significant to Aztec religious practices. They were the sites of religious celebrations and rituals. The temples represented ascension.

What was the main Aztec temple called?

The Templo Mayor
The Templo Mayor (Spanish: Main Temple) was the main temple of the Mexica people in their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. Its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica.

What was in the middle of the Aztec city?

The center of the city was known as the Templo Mayor. Atop the single complex were two temples, one for Tlaloc, the god of rain, and one for Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war.

What was the most important Aztec temple?

The Templo Mayor (Main Temple) in Tenochtitlan, capital of the mighty Aztec empire, was located in the center of the city, where the most important ritual and ceremonial activities in Aztec life took place.

What were Aztec temples made out of?

The Teotihuacán built the Pyramids of the Sun and of the Moon between A.D. 1 and 250. Like many Mesoamerican pyramids, each was constructed around a core of rubble held in place by retaining walls. The walls were then faced with adobe bricks, and then covered with limestone.

Is there anything left of Tenochtitlan?

Today, the ruins of Tenochtitlan are in the historic center of the Mexican capital. The World Heritage Site of Xochimilco contains what remains of the geography (water, boats, floating gardens) of the Mexica capital. The city is located in modern-day Mexico City.

What was the history of the Aztec temples?

The history of Aztec temples, just like other religious and cultural aspects of Aztec life, extended much beyond the Aztec empire. A lot of great pyramids existed before the Aztec Empire were established and these pyramids were later declared sacred by the Aztecs and used as temples.

How tall was the temple of Templo Mayor?

Aztec Temples Scale Model Templo Mayor – This temple was 60 meters in height and built of stone. The Aztecs used a variety of materials in the construction of their temples and pyramids.

What did Hernan Cortes say about the Aztec temples?

To give you an idea of how impressive the Aztec temples are, Hernan Cortes, the conqueror of the Aztec empire, said that Tenochtitlan, the capital city, was one of the most beautiful cities he had ever seen. The capital city was a planned community, and it was laid out in a grid which was split into avenues and split within five quarters.

What did the Aztecs use the step pyramids for?

The Aztec temples were built all over the Aztec Empire and in their most famous form existed as rooms at the top of step pyramids. However, the step pyramids were not always temples and could also be used for other purposes. Various types of great pyramids served as temples and they also varied in their size.