30 May 2025 / 10 House
Article suitable for older students
Find out moreWhy didn’t most Aztec warriors wear helmets?
ORIGINAL QUESTION received from - and thanks to - Daniel: Why didn’t most Aztec warriors wear helmets if so much of their culture and economy was based on warfare? (Answered by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)
We think the answer lies in the traditions of the Mexica military hierarchy. Display of rank was so important that helmets were reserved strictly for élite warriors, field commanders, and for rulers/royalty. World expert John Pohl writes: ‘Helmets were carved of hardwoods like mahogany. They were lined with a heavy cotton cap and tied securely under the chin with cloth or leather ribbons. Those issued as awards to soldiers were limited almost exclusively to the jaguar, coyote and tzitzimitl or “demon of vengeance” styles (see pic 1). However, high ranking nobility could commission helmets for themselves in all sorts of fanciful heraldic forms with eagles, parrots, vultures, monkeys, bears, wolves, and crocodiles being especially popular’ (2001: 60).
The helmet completely enveloped the head, ‘allowing the face to protrude through the opening in the heraldic patron’s mouth to imply that the man was essentially one with his animal counterpart in religious belief’ (ibid: 20).
Quote/references:-
• Pohl, John (2001) Aztec Warrior AD 1325-1521: Weapons, Armour, Tactics, Osprey Publishing Ltd., Oxford.
Image scanned from Aztec Warrior (above). Illustration by Adam Hook.
Comments (3)
Daniel
7th Dec 2024
I see... however, I still wonder how they managed to avoid suffering huge losses in battle against enemies specialized in long-range weapons, such as bows and slings.
Mexicolore
Fair point...
Daniel
6th Dec 2024
I have just checked the codex and I do not see that the Otomi and the shorn warriors are wearing helmets. The texts also do not mention helmets for these specific units. Have I seen the wrong page?
Mexicolore
We didn’t say they were wearing helmets. What we’re trying to point out is that just as prestigious as a helmet to distinguished warriors were other features such as hairstyle, headdress, etc. Otomí warriors had a distinctive hairstyle. As one source puts it ‘The arrangement of an Aztec warrior’s hair was as important to his identity as his battle attire’. Perhaps Otomí warriors regarded their hairstyle - which included the topknot being tied with a particular coloured band - as more ‘special’ to them (and symbolic of their famed bravery) than helmets...
Daniel
6th Dec 2024
If helmets were reserved for elite warriors, why didn’t Otomi warriors or shorn warriors wear helmets if they were from the elite and fought on the front line?
Mexicolore
Are you sure they didn’t? Helmets weren’t the only distinctive regalia for high-ranking warriors. If you look at fol. 64r of the Codex Mendoza, it shows six élite warriors, including Otomí and Shorn One: they all sport a mixed bag of magnificent helmets, special hairstyles, back devices, shields, necklaces, feather headdresses...
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