The victims of Mexica human sacrifice came from several sources, and the Mexica developed a sophisticated system for the selection of the victims. The most important source of victims was war, and the Mexica conducted a series of flower wars with their neighbors for the purpose of capturing prisoners for sacrifice. The Mexica also sacrificed slaves, who were purchased in the Tlatelolco market for the purpose of sacrifice, and they sacrificed children, who were believed to be especially pleasing to certain gods. The Mexica also sacrificed members of their own community, in cases of particularly serious crimes or religious offenses.
War Captives
The most important source of victims for Mexica human sacrifice was war, and the Mexica conducted a series of flower wars with their neighbors for the purpose of capturing prisoners for sacrifice. The flower wars were ritualized conflicts, fought on agreed-upon dates and at agreed-upon places, in which the object was not to kill the enemy but to capture him. The prisoners were then taken to Tenochtitlan and sacrificed at the Templo Mayor in elaborate public ceremonies.
The Mexica also captured prisoners in regular wars of conquest, and these prisoners were also sacrificed in the major religious ceremonies. The Mexica believed that the sacrifice of war captives was particularly pleasing to Huitzilopochtli, the war god and the patron of the Mexica, and the sacrifice shaped the Mexica military system. The Mexica warriors who captured prisoners for sacrifice were honored with special privileges, and they were among the most respected figures in Mexica society.
Slaves
The Mexica also sacrificed slaves, who were purchased in the Tlatelolco market for the purpose of sacrifice. The slaves were often prisoners of war, but they could also be criminals, debtors, or other unfortunates who had been sold into slavery. The Mexica believed that the sacrifice of slaves was a way of providing the gods with a regular supply of victims, and the slave trade in Tlatelolco was an important source of victims for the major religious ceremonies.
The slaves who were destined for sacrifice were often marked with special signs, and they were sold in a special section of the market. The Mexica believed that the sacrifice of slaves was less prestigious than the sacrifice of war captives, but it shaped religious system. The slaves were often treated with respect, and they were given a period of time to prepare for the sacrifice.
Children
The Mexica also sacrificed children, who were believed to be especially pleasing to Tlaloc, the rain god. Children were believed to be especially pleasing to certain rain gods, particularly Tlaloc. According to Mexica belief, the tears shed by weeping children on the way to sacrifice were transformed into rain that would fall on the fields of the valley. Elaborate rituals were performed to honor the children and to ensure the fertility of the fields for the coming year. The children were purchased from their parents or were given by their parents as offerings, and they were taken to the mountain shrines around Tenochtitlan to be sacrificed.
The sacrifice of children to Tlaloc was one of the most controversial aspects of Mexica religion, and it has been the subject of much scholarly and ethical debate. The Mexica, however, believed that the sacrifice was a necessary part of the religious system, and that without the sacrifice, the rains would not come and the crops would fail. The sacrifice was performed with elaborate rituals, and the children were honored with offerings and prayers.
Volunteers and Criminals
The Mexica also practiced a form of voluntary sacrifice, in which individuals would offer themselves as victims in times of crisis or to honor the gods. The Mexica believed that the voluntary sacrifice was particularly pleasing to the gods, and they performed elaborate rituals to honor the volunteers. The most famous example of voluntary sacrifice was the case of the young men who were selected to represent the gods for a year, and who were sacrificed at the end of their term of service.
The Mexica also sacrificed members of their own community, in cases of particularly serious crimes or religious offenses. Adulterers, those who had committed incest, and those who had been convicted of the most serious crimes could be sentenced to death by sacrifice. The Mexica believed that the sacrifice of criminals was a way of purifying the community, and it shaped the Mexica system of law and justice.
Related Articles
- Human Sacrifice in Aztec Religion — the broader context
- Why did the Aztecs practice human sacrifice? — the religious logic
- What was the role of heart extraction in Aztec ritual? — the method
- The Flower Wars and Ritual Conflict — a major source of victims
- Major Gods of the Aztec Pantheon — the recipients
- Aztec Religion and Mythology — the broader context