Basic Aztec facts: AZTEC TEMPLES

Aztec temples were usually found at the top of pyramids and they are often called temple-pyramids. Designed using ancient Mesoamerican architectural traditions that went back thousands of years (pic 1), temple-pyramids were tall structures forming four main platforms, with grand stairways running up one side; you can see them in the picture above, which comes from an old Aztec book, the Codex Ixtlilxochitl.

Pic 1: Some of the steps in ancient Mesoamerican temple-pyramid design

The Aztecs believed their pyramids were the homes of their gods and places of worship. Burials have been found within their walls, and the pyramids were also used to perform rituals of sacrifice. Being ziggurats (pyramids with flat tops), pyramids from the Americas (including those of the Aztecs) were located inside busy cities, and were centres of regular worship and festivities, as well as centres of astrology and astronomy. This was unlike the Egyptian pyramids, which were built exclusively as the tombs of kings, and resting places of the dead.

Pic 3: Reconstruction by Ignacio Marquina of the ancient site of Cuicuilco

So you see, temple-pyramids were not just visually awesome, they symbolised the very essence of the Aztec nation and were centres where people went to worship their nation’s gods, ancestors and history.

Pic 5: A famous reconstruction of Tenochtitlan city centre, by Ignacio Marquina

Amongst all religious shrines, temple-pyramids were prized as the homes of Aztec gods as well as long-departed human ancestors. This is partly because the Aztecs’ ancestors had journeyed together with their gods on a long and dangerous pilgrimage in search of their ‘promised land’, Tenochtitlan. Picture 7 shows the Aztecs carrying Huitzilopochtli (the Aztec patron god) with them on their journey. He is wrapped up in a special ‘sacred bundle’, and carried by his priests.

Pic 7: Four Aztec priests transport their god Huitzilopochtli (Left-Hand Humming Bird). He is in the bundle on the far right with his beak sticking out!

Temple-pyramids went on for ever...
Most pyramids started as small platforms made of organic materials such as clay and wood. Over time, as the Aztecs became more powerful and wealthy, bigger pyramids were built right on top of the old ones! Rebuilding pyramids was important because larger, more glorious temples would honour the gods and, hopefully, make them happier. Many beautiful offerings to the gods have been found within the layers of pyramids. Picture 9 shows the stages of construction of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. Some pyramids were seven layers deep!

Pic 9: Virtual model of the Aztecs’ Great Temple. It illustrates stages 3-6 of the pyramid’s construction. Archaeologists cannot reach the first level because it is below Mexico City’s water line

What were temple-pyramids used for?
- As centres of worship, religious schools, astronomical observatories, sacrificial centres, and as the focal point of regular religious festivities involving the whole community. The Aztecs dedicated their temples to gods. Did you notice (top picture) that the two temples on top of the Great Temple are decorated differently? They were dedicated to different gods - Tlaloc (left) and Huitzilopochtli (right), so the temple roofs had special symbols that belonged to the gods they represented (pic 11).

Pic 11: The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, illustrated by Aztec writers in the sixteenth century

This stone (pic 13) was found at the base of the Great Temple. It’s a sculpture of Coyolxauhqui, Huitzilopochtli’s crafty sister. She plotted to kill him, but he fought her and tore her body apart. This offering would have been made to Huitzilopochtli as he represented war and the sun, whereas his conquered sister represented the moon. It was probably placed at the base of the Great Temple’s steps, where the bodies of those sacrificed in Huitzilopochtli’s honour would have landed when thrown from his temple-top. Grim!

Pic 13: Coyolxauhqui stone, Templo Mayor Museum