Table of Contents
Why was religion important to Aztecs?
Aztecs were a devoutly religious people, to the extent that no Aztec made a decision about any aspect of his or her life without considering its religious significance. The Aztecs worshipped hundreds of deities and honored them all in a variety of rituals and ceremonies, some featuring human sacrifice.
Is Aztec religion still practiced?
Contemporary Aztec (Nahua) villages vary enormously in the degree to which they continue to practice the ancient religion and follow the old gods. Some have lost their Aztec beliefs and practice forms of Catholicism or Protestantism that are very similar to religions practiced in Europe or North America.
How did the Aztecs worship?
The Aztecs built temples to honor their gods. Temples provided a place for the music of worship, a place for the private ceremony of personal bloodletting, and a place to conduct the many human sacrifices that the Aztecs believed were necessary to keep their gods happy. Some temples were huge structures.
What did the Aztecs practice to please the gods?
Aztec priests, using razor-sharp obsidian blades, sliced open the chests of sacrificial victims and offered their still-beating hearts to the gods. They then tossed the victims’ lifeless bodies down the steps of the towering Templo Mayor.
How many gods are there in Aztec religion?
200 deities
The Aztecs believed in a complex and diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses. In fact, scholars have identified more than 200 deities within Aztec religion.
Did the Aztecs pray?
Yes indeed. In fact they had prayers for many, many things. We are fortunate that many people were interested in the prayers of the Aztecs and they were copied down in the hundred years or so after the conquest. Every occupation also had prayers for its particular activity.
How did Aztecs worship their gods?
What were the religious beliefs of the Aztecs?
Aztec Religious Beliefs. The Aztec beliefs were varied and vast. They believed in heaven and hell. In fact, they believed in multiple heavens and hells, believing there to be 9 hells and 13 heavens.
What religion did the Aztec follow?
It started out of the Mesoamerican religion, and with that, some elements such as human sacrifice came with it. The Aztec religion is polytheistic, meaning it practices in the worship of many deities, or gods. The Aztecs have a particularly abundant set of gods and goddesses that they worshiped.
What was the Aztec religion called?
The Aztecs worshiped many gods. When they took over a new tribe or culture they often adopted the new tribe’s gods into the Aztec religion. One of the most important aspects of Aztec religion was the sun. The Aztecs called themselves the “People of the Sun”.