The Encyclopedia of World Religions

42 S Aztec religion

At first the ruler of the Aztecs mistook the Spanish warrior, Hernán Cortés, for Quetzalcoatl returning. Like virtually all ancient peoples, the Aztecs practiced RITUALS in their homes. In these rituals they used small figurines and incense burners. They also had a religion associated with ceremonial centers. It consisted of SACRIFICES , often human sac rifices. For the Aztecs, the human body contained the sacred forces that made order and life possible. These forces were especially concentrated in the heart and the head. As a result, sacrifices paid par ticular attention to hearts and heads. The Spanish conquerors considered Aztec reli gion to be the work of devils—literally. They tried to obliterate it. Nevertheless, elements of Aztec religion survived. They combined with the religion of the conquerors to produce a distinct tradition of R OMAN C ATHOLICISM .

Construction workers in Mexico City discovered the temple by accident in 1978. The other deity worshipped there was Tlaloc, the god of rain. A third god, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, had a temple nearby. The Aztecs knew Quetzalcoatl in several forms. One was a priest-king of the ancient city of Tula. This Quetzalcoatl diligently performed rituals. For example, he offered blood from the calves of his legs and he bathed ceremonially. As a result, Tula prospered. At the same time, Quetzalcoatl refused to perform certain rituals, such as human sacrifice. According to one text, he sacrificed only snakes, birds, and butterflies. Because of indiscreet behav ior, Quetzalcoatl was forced to abdicate his throne. He traveled to the east and burned himself. His spirit arose to the sky to become the planet Venus. Another legend said that he sailed off into the east.