Altar of nocturnal animals

Aztec stone altar of creatures of the night, 56x67x62 cms., c. 1500, National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.

The purpose of altars, which played a significant part in Aztec sculpture, was to support images of the most important gods. The altar of nocturnal animals was dedicated to Mictlantecuhtli, god of death and the underworld, a statue of whom no doubt stood on the top of it. On its four sides are reliefs depicting creatures of the night: a bat, a scorpion, an owl and a spider (shown here).

Adapted from the RA exhibition catalogue ‘Aztecs’, p. 432.

Photo by Ana Laura Landa/Mexicolore.

You can see the bat side by following our link below...