Based on recent archaeological digs at Zultepec in Mexico, it has been discovered that a sizable number of Europeans (and even their horses) were sacrificed. This episode pretty much looks into the matter from a Euro-centric point of view, but it is still very watchable--and Scary!
Native accounts of what lead to such a huge sacrificial event in a such a small native town link the death of Tlatoani (Emperor) Motecuhzoma (II) Xocoyotzin (Montezuma) to the event. Zultepec, which was also known by the name it's modern name of Calpulalpan, had been thought a town inhabited only by priests, but many native accounts have that human sacrifice had never actually took place there before this event. It seems that when the body of the tlatoani was found chucked over the wall that walled off the sacred area of the Aztec capital, Tenochtilan, the priest left to travel toward the Totonac strong hold in what is now called Veracruz. They knew that the Totonac king had aided the Spaniards, and as taxed subjects they were guilty of attempting to over-through the empire--no small offense! It seems that these high-priests, who were most likely headed to the Totonac town of Zempoala, must have received world off the European capture. The rest, as they say, is history.
And, one more thing, Cortez's description of heart sacrifice is a web of unneeded lies. Heart sacrifice was horrifying enough as it was, why he felt the need to lie about ir, not only the manner of the act and rituals that were performed, but also who he saw being sacrificed, which were mostly men--not children--is extremely strange. Why not just tell the truth?
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| Ritual Cannibalism |
Aztecs also added music (of sorts) in the form of whistles to the ritual procession of certain sacrifices. These are known as "Death Whistles." Below are photos of two of them.
Again I'm having trouble with the You Tube embed. If you would like hear them click below:
Below is a photo of an actual Aztec sacrificial knife from the 16th century. The handle is decorated in a mosaic design that is known as "Mixtec," because that group of native people invented it over in Cholula. [The mostly un-excavated "teocalli" (God House) or "pyramid" is the largest in all of Mexico.]
In pre-Columbian celebration of Miccaihuitl (Dia de los Muertos) masks were a huge part of the ritual (as they still are); only in those days the High Priests (tlamatinime) were required to wear masks of some of their sacrificial victims. One such masks was found at the Templo Mayor in the heart of Mexico City (formerly Tenochtitlan). It apparently was ritually displayed in the temple after use in the celebration.
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