28 May 2025 / 8 Alligator
Ask the Experts (Aztecs)!
Ian consults Leonardo Lopez Lujan at the Templo Mayor
As an educational team visiting up to 150 schools each year, we get asked myriad questions on the Mexica, ranging from the predictable to the amusing to the perceptive and truly thought-provoking.
It’s a pity these can’t be shared with wider audiences, and given more ‘polished’ and considered answers. So we publish here the best together with brief but expert answers. We hope that, as the service develops, you will find this a unique resource - authoritative, balanced, interactive and genuinely accessible.
The questions posed to Mexicolore by middle-school students are wonderful, and often more insightful than those posed by the professionals... (Professor Alan Sandstrom).
Spring 2025: we are privileged to have an expanding team of - now over 110! - world-class and distinguished scholars on our Panel. Honorary President Professor Miguel León-Portilla received in 2009 from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) its greatest distinction, the Eagle Warrior Award, a sculpture that represents a Mexica fighter, presented to academics and researchers that have made important contributions to Mexican history. Very sadly, Miguel León-Portilla died on 1st. October 2019.
Above: Mexicolore Director Ian Mursell puts a question on behalf of a school to Dr Leonardo López Luján, Director of the Templo Mayor Project in Mexico City.
Who were more successful -the Aztecs or the Maya?
![Do they [the Maya]](https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/images-ans/ans_250_00_0.jpg)
Do they [the Maya]still do bloodletting?
How long would it take a Mexicawoman to make a huipil?
How long would it taketo make a huipil?
Why did the people not name Mexicoafter the Maya instead of the Aztecs?
When someone was sacrificeddid the family get a chance to say goodbye?
Which was the biggestancient Maya city?
What would happen ifyou didn’t believe in any gods?
Did Spanish kings and queenswear headdresses?
Which was the biggestancient Maya city?
If codices were covered with jaguar skinwouldn’t they start to smell?
In the moon calendar, were the 260 daysall linked to different gods?
How many different coloursof maize are there?
Is the man who stole KingPakal’s jade mask still in prison?
Did the Aztecs celebratea different god every day?
Did shaking a rainstickat the clouds work?!
Would you have lived longeras an Aztec or a Maya [child]?
How heavy would one of the skull masks worn on the back have been?
How did the ancient Mayacarve their jade masks?
Which other Mexica foodswere sacred, apart from maize?
Why did the Aztecs like topaint their bodies so much?
Why did they believethe earth is a turtle?
How did they carry the heavy stonesto build their temples?
If you were an Aztec under 52,were you ever allowed chocolate?
Once dead as an Aztec, could youmove between levels or heavens?
What does the hand gesture of the Maya maize god mean?
How many people livedin an Aztec house (2)?
Would pieces of obsidianhave been worn as jewellery?
Were there any ladyMaya rulers?
How long did it taketo build Chichen Itza?
Did the Aztecs ever fightagainst the Maya?
How many Maya books existedbefore the Conquest?
Why isn’t Mexico named after the Mayainstead of after the Mexica/Aztecs?
Why did houseshave no windows? (2)
Did the Maya and Aztecs take feathers for headdressesfrom other birds [other than quetzals]?
![Why did [Maya] houses](https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/images-ans/ans_122_00_0.jpg)
Why did [Maya] houseshave no windows?
Did the Aztecs know about the Venus cyclefrom the Maya?
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Ian consults Leonardo Lopez Lujan at the Templo Mayor
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