Download or read book The Mythology and Religion of the Aztec written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-03-25 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes Spanish accounts of the Aztec's human sacrifices *Includes footnotes and a bibliography for further reading "They strike open the wretched Indian's chest with flint knives and hastily tear out the palpitating heart which, with the blood, they present to the idols...They cut off the arms, thighs and head, eating the arms and thighs at ceremonial banquets. The head they hang up on a beam, and the body is...given to the beasts of prey." - Bernal Diaz, a Spaniard who described the Aztec's human sacrifice From the moment Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés first found and confronted them, the Aztecs have fascinated the world, and they continue to hold a unique place both culturally and in pop culture. Nearly 500 years after the Spanish conquered their mighty empire, the Aztecs are often remembered today for their major capital, Tenochtitlan, as well as being fierce conquerors of the Valley of Mexico who often engaged in human sacrifice rituals. Ironically, and unlike the Mayans, the Aztecs are not widely viewed or remembered with nuance, in part because their own leader burned extant Aztec writings and rewrote a mythologized history explaining his empire's dominance less than a century before the Spanish arrived. While the Mayans are remembered for their astronomy, numeral system, and calendar, the Aztecs have primarily been remembered in a far narrower way, despite continuing to be a source of pride to Mexicans through the centuries. As a result, even though the Aztecs continue to interest people across the world centuries after their demise, it has fallen on archaeologists and historians to try to determine the actual history, culture, and lives of the Aztecs from the beginning to the end, relying on excavations, primary accounts, and more. That said, more is known about Aztec religious practices than any other aspect of their culture, mostly because the major element in the public ceremonies was focused on human sacrifice. The rituals were apparently so gruesome that they horrified even the Spanish, who were not exactly known for their gentility when it came to war and religious fervor. A Spaniard named Bernal Diaz described what happened at one religious ceremony: "They have a most horrid and abominable custom which truly ought to be punished and which until now we have seen in no other part, and this is that, whenever they wish to ask something of the idols, in order that their plea may find more acceptance, they take many girls and boys and even adults, and in the presence of these idols they open their chests while they are still alive and take out their hearts and entrails and burn them before the idols, offering the smoke as sacrifice. Some of us have seen this, and they say it is the most terrible and frightful thing they have ever witnessed." Naturally, Cortés and other Spaniards depicted the Aztecs as savages greatly in need of conversion to Catholicism. The Spanish used the Aztec's religious practices as a justification for Cortés' conquest, but even though the Spanish attempted to burn as much as they could, plenty of information about Aztec mythology also survived. The Mythology and Religion of the Aztec examines the history and legacy of the religion practiced by the famous Mesoamerican empire. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about Aztec religion and mythology like you never have before, in no time at all.
Download or read book Aztec Mythology and Religion written by Hollis Reynosa and published by . This book was released on 2016-01-22 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many leading deities of the Aztec pantheon were worshipped by previous Mesoamerican civilizations, gods such as Tlaloc, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, who were venerated by different names in most cultures throughout the history of Mesoamerica. For the Aztecs especially important deities were the rain god Tlaloc, the god Huitzilopochtli-patron of the Mexica tribe-as well as Quetzalcoatl the feathered serpent, wind god, culture hero, and god of civilization and order, and elusive Tezcatlipoca, the shrewd god of destiny and fortune, connected with war and sorcery.
Download or read book Aztec Mythology written by Don Nardo and published by Greenhaven Publishing LLC. This book was released on 2014-11-11 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book discusses the origins of Aztec myths and how some of these myths have been manipulated over time. The book details the major gods found within the mythology along with some of the most memorable tales, such as creation of the world and the making of humanity. Readers learn how Aztec myths have penetrated popular culture.
Download or read book The Fifth Sun written by Burr Cartwright Brundage and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2014-02-19 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ancient Aztecs dwelt at the center of a dazzling and complex cosmos. From this position they were acutely receptive to the demands of their gods. The Fifth Sun represents a dramatic overview of the Aztec conception of the universe and the gods who populated it—Quetzalcoatl, the Plumed Serpent; Tezcatlipoca, the Smoking Mirror; and Huitzilopochtli, the Southern Hummingbird. Burr Cartwright Brundage explores the myths behind these and others in the Aztec pantheon in a way that illuminates both the human and the divine in Aztec life. The cult of human sacrifice is a pervasive theme in this study. It is a concept that permeated Aztec mythology and was the central preoccupation of the aggressive Aztec state. Another particularly interesting belief explored here is the “mask pool,” whereby gods could exchange regalia and, thus, identities. This vivid and eminently readable study also covers the use of hallucinogens; cannibalism; the calendars of ancient Mexico; tlachtli, the life-and-death ball game; the flower wars; divine transfiguration; and the evolution of the war god of the Mexica. A splendid introduction to Aztec religion, The Fifth Sun also contains insights for specialists in ethnohistory, mythology, and religion.
Download or read book The Myth of Quetzalcoatl written by Alfredo López Austin and published by University Press of Colorado. This book was released on 2015-11-07 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Myth of Quetzalcoatl is a translation of Alfredo López Austin’s 1973 book Hombre-Dios: Religión y politica en el mundo náhuatl. Despite its pervasive and lasting influence on the study of Mesoamerican history, religion in general, and the Quetzalcoatl myth in particular, this work has not been available in English until now. The importance of Hombre-Dios and its status as a classic arise from its interdisciplinary approach, creative use of a wide range of source material, and unsurpassed treatment of its subject—the nature and content of religious beliefs and rituals among the native populations of Mesoamerica and the manner in which they fused with and helped sanctify political authority and rulership in both the pre- and post-conquest periods. Working from a wide variety of previously neglected documentary sources, incorporating myth, archaeology, and the ethnography of contemporary Native Americans including non-Nahua peoples, López Austin traces the figure of Quetzalcoatl as a “Man-God” from pre-conquest times, while Russ Davidson’s translator’s note, Davíd Carrasco's foreword, and López Austin’s introduction place the work within the context of modern scholarship. López Austin’s original work on Quetzalcoatl is a pivotal work in the field of anthropology, and this long-overdue English translation will be of significance to historians, anthropologists, linguists, and serious readers interested in Mesoamerica.
Download or read book Aztec Mythology written by Hasty History and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-06-25 with total page 47 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is dedicated to exploring the gods and goddesses that the Aztec people on the pre-Columbian American continent worshiped, and within the pages you will find subtopics like: The origins and influences on Aztec beliefs, or in other words: Where they got it all from. The most important themes in Aztec mythology. Gods and goddesses, and their background stories, from Aztec mythology. Aztec myths about the creation of the world. Details about the Aztec empire, their art, religion, and more. Legends about Aztec women who became goddesses after they died from childbirth. Aztec mythology is intricate, complex, and the ideals behind some of their mythological beliefs were often intertwined with real life events. This book will examine how both myth and fact contributed to the culture and traditions of the Aztecs, and how these influences and some stories continue to live on throughout the centuries. Add this book to cart now.
Download or read book Maya and Aztec Mythology Rocks written by Michael A. Schuman and published by Enslow Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2012-09 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Read about the creation of people according to the Popol Vuh, the origin of the sun, moon, world, music, and four other important myths"--Provided by publisher
Download or read book Aztec Mythology written by Historical Publishing and published by . This book was released on 2020-02-05 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!Aztec Mythology: A Comprehensive Guide to Aztec Mythology including Myths, Art, Religion, and CultureDo you want to learn about Aztec Mythology? The Aztесѕ, whо рrоbаblу оriginаtеd as a nоmаdiс tribе in northern Mеxiсо, аrrivеd in Mеѕоаmеriса аrоund thе bеginning of thе 13th century. From thеir mаgnifiсеnt capital сitу, Tеnосhtitlаn, the Aztесѕ еmеrgеd аѕ thе dоminаnt force in сеntrаl Mеxiсо, developing an intricate ѕосiаl, роlitiсаl, rеligiоuѕ аnd соmmеrсiаl оrgаnizаtiоn that brought mаnу оf thе rеgiоn'ѕ city-states undеr thеir соntrоl by thе 15th сеnturу. Invaders lеd bу thе Spanish соnԛuiѕtаdоr Hеrnаn Cortes оvеrthrеw the Aztecs bу force аnd captured Tenochtitlan in 1521, bringing an end to Mеѕоаmеriса'ѕ last grеаt nаtivе civilization. Thе еxасt оriginѕ of the Aztес реорlе are unсеrtаin, but thеу аrе bеliеvеd tо hаvе bеgun as a nоrthеrn tribе оf hunter-gatherers whose nаmе came frоm that оf their hоmеlаnd, Aztlаn (оr "Whitе Land"). Thе Aztесѕ wеrе also known as thе Tеnосhса (from which the nаmе fоr thеir сарitаl city, Tеnосhtitlаn, wаѕ derived) or the Mеxiса (the оrigin of the name оf thе сitу that would rерlасе Tenochtitlan, as well аѕ the name fоr the еntirе соuntrу). Thе Aztecs арреаrеd in Mesoamerica-as the ѕоuth-сеntrаl region оf pre-Columbian Mеxiсо iѕ knоwn-in thе еаrlу 13th сеnturу. Thеir аrrivаl came juѕt аftеr or реrhарѕ hеlреd bring аbоut, thе fаll of thе рrеviоuѕlу dominant Mеѕоаmеriсаn сivilizаtiоn, thе Toltecs. Here Is A Preview Of What You'll Learn... Aztec Gods and Goddesses Aztec Calendar? Creation Myth Water Deities Fire Deities Death Deities Much, much more! ACT NOW! Click the orange BUY button at the top of this page!Then you can begin reading Aztec Mythology: A Comprehensive Guide to Aztec Mythology including Myths, Art, Religion, and Culture on your Kindle device, computer, tablet or smartphone.
Download or read book Gods Goddesses of the Inca Maya and Aztec Civilizations written by John Murphy and published by Encyclopaedia Britannica. This book was released on 2014-07-15 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sharing many common beliefs, deities, and rituals, the religion of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca was rooted in both the earth and the sky, the rhythms of the seasons, and the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. Readers will meet rain and sun gods, corn gods and fertility gods, earth mothers who are both creators and destroyers, and even a feathered serpent. Lavish primary-source images of arts and artifacts are paired with text that is both information-packed and enthralling. Readers who enter this pantheon are in for an awe-inspiring cultural journey through the divine mysteries of time and space.
Download or read book Aztec and Maya Myths written by Karl Taube and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 1993 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The myths of the Aztec and Maya derive from a shared Mesoamerican cultural tradition. This is very much a living tradition, and many of the motifs and gods mentioned in early sources are still evoked in the lore of contemporary Mexico and Guatemala. Professor Taube discusses the different sources for Aztec and Maya myths. The Aztec empire began less than 200 years before the Spanish conquest, and our knowledge of their mythology derives primarily from native colonial documents and manuscripts commissioned by the Spanish. The Maya mythology is far older, and our knowledge of it comes mainly from native manuscripts of the Classic period, over 600 years before the Spanish conquest. Drawing on these sources as well as nineteenth- and twentieth-century excavations and research, including the interpretation of the codices and the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing, the author discusses, among other things, the Popol Vuh myths of the Maya, the flood myth of Northern Yucatan, and the Aztec creation myths.
Download or read book Aztec Mythology written by Publishing Historical Figures and published by . This book was released on 2020-03-07 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Aztec Mythology: A Comprehensive Guide to Aztec Mythology Including Myths, Art, Religion, and Culture
Download or read book Handbook to Life in the Aztec World written by Manuel Aguilar-Moreno and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2007 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes daily life in the Aztec world, including coverage of geography, foods, trades, arts, games, wars, political systems, class structure, religious practices, trading networks, writings, architecture and science.
Download or read book Aztec Myths written by J.K. Jackson and published by Flame Tree 451. This book was released on 2019-07-29 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Though the Olmecs (1250–200 bc) were the first civilization in Mexico, the Aztecs (1325–1521) –Mesoamerica’s last imperial civilization and the most significant of the militaristic post-Classic period – are probably who first come to mind when we think of great empires of that region. Like other Mesoamerican cultures, Aztec gods and myths reflected a natural philosophy where ideas concerning life and death were linked symbolically to the earth, sky and sea in a grand cosmic scheme. Their religion was dominated by the tribal war god Huitzilopochtli, the rain/fertility god Tlaloc and the supreme deity Tezcatlipoca, the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. This fascinating collection explores the history, culture, gods, calendar, myths and tales of this people, from migration legends to the origin myth of the Five Suns. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.
Download or read book Aztec Philosophy written by James Maffie and published by University Press of Colorado. This book was released on 2014-03-15 with total page 609 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Aztec Philosophy, James Maffie shows the Aztecs advanced a highly sophisticated and internally coherent systematic philosophy worthy of consideration alongside other philosophies from around the world. Bringing together the fields of comparative world philosophy and Mesoamerican studies, Maffie excavates the distinctly philosophical aspects of Aztec thought. Aztec Philosophy focuses on the ways Aztec metaphysics—the Aztecs’ understanding of the nature, structure and constitution of reality—underpinned Aztec thinking about wisdom, ethics, politics,\ and aesthetics, and served as a backdrop for Aztec religious practices as well as everyday activities such as weaving, farming, and warfare. Aztec metaphysicians conceived reality and cosmos as a grand, ongoing process of weaving—theirs was a world in motion. Drawing upon linguistic, ethnohistorical, archaeological, historical, and contemporary ethnographic evidence, Maffie argues that Aztec metaphysics maintained a processive, transformational, and non-hierarchical view of reality, time, and existence along with a pantheistic theology. Aztec Philosophy will be of great interest to Mesoamericanists, philosophers, religionists, folklorists, and Latin Americanists as well as students of indigenous philosophy, religion, and art of the Americas.
Download or read book Burning Water written by Laurette Séjourné and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The subject of this book is the cosmology and religion of the Toltecs and Aztecs, and it's main focus is the figure of Tollan's priestly king, Quetzalcoatl, and his teachings.
Download or read book Mesoamerican Mythology written by Kay Almere Read and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2002-06-13 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illustrated with scores of drawings and halftone photos, this guidebook to the mythology of Mexico and Central America focuses mainly on Mexican Highland and Maya areas, due to their importance in Mesoamerican history.
Download or read book The Gods of Mexico written by Lewis Spence and published by . This book was released on 1923 with total page 468 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
