Aztec Religion

A large part of the Aztec culture was sacrifice, because as a part of their religion they believed human sacrifice fed the sun and the earth. Teocalli was their religious temple where sacrificing took place. The Aztecs believed in 13 heavens and 9 hells and over a thousand gods. For more on Aztec religion go to this link.

Xipe Totec

The Aztec people had many gods that they believed in. Xipe Totec or "our lord the flayed one" was one of their gods. He was the god of renewal and new life. He was commonly portrayed wearing the freshly flayed skin of a sacrificial victim. He was highly involved in the sacrificing rituals as he was the one to receive the skins of the body. He wore the skins as a symbol of new vegetation to represent the "new skin" the Earth receives when Spring comes. In statues he is always portrayed with the skin of hands hanging from his wrists.

Xipe Totec

Aztec Sacrificing

The Aztec people believed they owed a blood-debt to their gods. To try and repay this endless debt, sacrificing was a huge part of their society, it had great religious significance. There were 18 months in their calendar and for each 18 months there was a ritual sacrifice. The body of the victim would be painted as part of the ritual and then the heart would be torn out, lifted to the sun, and the body would be thrown down the temple stairs. Humans as well as animals were sacrificed and ritual blood shedding was practiced as well as sacrificing.

Aztec Sacrificing