How did warriors carry their weapons when not fighting?

Thanks for writing. The best answer to your question comes from the excellent and highly recommended book by John Pohl in the Osprey Military series Aztec Warrior AD1325-1521: Weapons, Armour, Tactics (2001). Professor Pohl (on our Panel of Experts) is a world expert on Mexica warfare. Commenting on images in the Codex Mendoza (see picture) he writes:-
’A high-ranker is shown marching with a shield ornamented with feathers and a pointed war stick called a huitzoctli. He is escorted by a youth of the telpochcalli [warrior/commoners school] carrying food and supplies for the two as well as his own weapons in a heavy woven basket...’
The Spanish gloss on the Codex page specifically reads ‘Youth, pupil of the warrior, who goes with him to war carrying his baggage and his arms on his back’ (our emphasis) - translation into English taken from The Essential Codex Mendoza by Frances Berdan and Patricia Rieff Anawalt (1997).

In terms of sources, please say which page/article you’re referring to! We always try to list all sources, both for text and pictures, unless it’s a page for kids or where it simply isn’t appropriate/necessary.

An Aztec youth carries weapons and supplies behind a high-ranking warrior; Codex Mendoza fol. 62r (detail)