30 May 2025 / 10 House
Article suitable for Top Juniors and above
Find out moreDid the Aztecs use a ‘Mixtec Sabre’?
ORIGINAL QUESTION received from - and thanks to - Victor Somarribas: There is a weapon I am very intrigued about, I was hoping you guys could shed some light on the subject, name, build, if it was used by the Aztecs. I would appreciate any help you guys can provide. It is found here under “mixtec sabre” http://www.dagorhir.com/forums/index.php?topic=17052.0 (Answered by Julia Flood/Mexicolore)
Thanks very much for your intriguing question! To tell the truth, we have been unable to find evidence of a ‘Mixtec sabre’ of this type. Perhaps the person who made this can shed some light on the matter. It looks like a version of the traditional maquahuitl obsidian sword used in Mesoamerica at the time of the conquest. Here is an image below (pic 2):-
As there are no remaining maquahuime (plur.) left, it is hard to know what varieties existed in the first place. Ross Hassig has written an interesting book on Aztec warfare that outlines the weapons illustrated in pre-Hispanic and colonial codices. The reference can be found at the end of this answer. We have also noticed that the curvature of your Mixtec sabre is reminiscent of the Xiuhcoatl (Fire Serpent), a mythical weapon used by the Aztec god, Huitziliopochtli. The curvature of the weapon imitates a serpent’s arched neck - could this be the inspiration behind the shape of the Mixtec sabre? The Xiuhcoatl was the weapon Huitzilopochtli used to kill his sister and 400 brothers (Centzonhuitznahua) in the myth of Coatepetl. Here’s an image of Huitzilopochtli brandishing the Xiuhcoatl (pic 3):-
According to the experts, the Xiuhcoatl predates the Aztecs back to Tula (Toltecs) and Teotihuacan. We hope this answer was of some use and would love to hear about anything more you might have learnt about its origins!
Ref: Hassig, Ross Aztec Warfare: imperial expansion and political control. University of Oklahoma Press: Oklahoma, 1988.
Comments (3)
Jimbo Jones
14th Jul 2023
That particular weapon is represented in the codex Zouche Nuttal. And Vic is right huitzilopochtli is represented holding an Atlatl.
Mexicolore
If that’s an atlatl, I’m a tortoise! Are you sure we’re talking about the same image - the tiny one (‘Pic 3’)?
BTW, do send us a pic of the ‘sabre’ in the Zouche Nuttall, we’d love to see it...
Vic Bash
13th Sep 2021
That depiction of huitzilophtli ( pardon my spelling) represents him with an athlal not a “mixtec saber”....
Mexicolore
It’s neither an atlatl nor a ‘Mixtec sabre’; it’s a xiuhcoatl (fire-serpent) staff.
Somarribas, Victor
2nd Nov 2013
Thank you! This is great info!
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