Table of Contents
Why did the Aztecs use stone?
The sculptures served to communicate the concepts of Aztec religion and were part of complex rituals; even historic monuments were elevated to the realm of the divine and ceremony by the addition of religious symbols. The subjects portrayed were many, but images of gods and goddesses were by far the most numerous.
What materials did the Aztecs use to make art?
The Aztec people were known to trade for materials that could be used in their artwork, but they often made use of natural decorations at their disposal. Clay and feathers were usual mediums for artwork, but other artistic materials included shells, rocks, coral, copper, gold, quartz, obsidian, silver, and turquoise.
Did the Aztecs use stone?
In the Aztec period and in colonial times different natural stones originating in the Valley of Mexico were used for building construction. Stone weathering was investigated onsite at various historical buildings within the old quarter of Mexico City.
What did the Aztecs use for building?
In contrast to the large stone temples, Aztec homes were primarily built from wood logs that were interlinked. They may have also used mud bricks (adobe). The floor of the homes was usually just dirt or may have been made of stone.
Why did the Aztecs make art?
Art was an important part of Aztec life. They used some forms of art such as music, poetry, and sculpture to honor and praise their gods. Other forms of art, such as jewelry and feather-work, were worn by the Aztec nobility to set them apart from the commoners.
How did Aztecs make their art?
The Aztecs created a rich variety of art works from massive stone sculptures to miniature, exquisitely carved gemstone insects. They made stylized hand crafted pottery, fine gold and silver jewelry and breathtaking feather work garments.
What did the Aztecs do for arts and crafts?
The Aztecs created a rich variety of art works from massive stone sculptures to miniature, exquisitely carved gemstone insects. They made stylized hand crafted pottery, fine gold and silver jewelry and breathtaking feather work garments. Aztec craftsmen worked images of their gods into much of their artwork.
What Stone did the Aztecs use?
Aztec sun stone
| Mexica sun stone | |
|---|---|
| Material | Basalt |
| Created | Sometime between 1502 and 1520 |
| Discovered | 17 December 1790 at El Zócalo, Mexico City |
| Present location | National Anthropology Museum (Mexico City) |
What contributions in art and architecture did the Aztecs make?
Aztecs mostly carved their stones for decorations, giving their buildings and materials a unique look that added texture and visual punch to their buildings. The carvings were naive for the most part with a very two dimensional quality.
Why did the Aztecs build pyramids?
Civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, Aztec and Inca all built pyramids to house their deities, as well as to bury their kings. In many of their great city-states, temple-pyramids formed the center of public life and were the site of holy rituals, including human sacrifice.