Mexica man, Mexica woman

‘If man applied himself to fishing, farming, preparing firewood, fighting wars, the priesthood, government, etc., woman cooked the food, helped at harvest, lit the home fire, wove hard-wearing attire so the warrior would never walk around in rags, carried offerings to the priests, swept the temples and palaces clean. They worked together to complete the cycle of activities: if the man was builder, it was the woman’s task to look after whatever had been built. If he was a potter, she gave meaning and use to the pots; if he was farmer, she sold the produce at market; if he had to go to war, she looked after the home; if she made the clothes, he wore them with dignity, was proud of them and taught the children the value of the clothes made by their mother; if it was the mother that fed the family food and love, it was the males, children or grown-ups, who brought water and foodstuffs to the house.

Photos by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore
Source La Educación de los Aztecas by Fernando Díaz Infante, Panorama Editorial, Mexico City, 1992.