The most common form of Mexica human sacrifice was heart extraction, in which the victim was held down on a stone block and the priest cut out the still-beating heart with an obsidian knife, offering it to the sun or to the god of the temple. The heart extraction was the central act of the Mexica sacrificial ritual, and it was performed with elaborate ceremonies and precise ritual gestures. The Mexica believed that the heart was the seat of the soul and the source of life, and that the offering of the heart to the gods was the most effective way of sustaining the gods and maintaining the cosmic order.
The Method of Heart Extraction
The heart extraction was performed at the top of the Templo Mayor, and the victim was laid on a stone block, called the techcatl, with the help of four priests who held the victim’s arms and legs. The priest who performed the sacrifice, called the tlamictiliztli, stood over the victim with a sharp obsidian knife, and he made a quick, precise cut to the left side of the chest, just below the ribs. The priest then reached into the chest cavity, grasped the still-beating heart, and tore it from the body.
The heart was then offered to the sun or to the god of the temple. The priest held the heart up to the sun, and he offered it with a prayer to the god. The heart was then placed in a special vessel, called the cuauhxicalli, and it was either burned or it was eaten by the priests and the nobles. The body of the victim was then thrown down the steps of the temple, and the head was placed on the tzompantli, the great skull rack, that stood beside the temple.
The Tools of the Sacrifice
The Mexica used a number of tools in the heart extraction, and the tools were important symbols of the ritual. The most important tool was the obsidian knife, called the tecpatl, which was used to make the initial cut. The obsidian knife was a sharp, pointed instrument, and it was capable of making a clean, precise cut. The obsidian knife was also a symbol of the god Tezcatlipoca, the god of the night and the patron of the obsidian mirror.
The Mexica also used a stone block, called the techcatl, which was used to hold the victim during the sacrifice. The stone block was typically carved with images of the gods, and it was a sacred object. The Mexica also used a special vessel, called the cuauhxicalli, to hold the heart after it had been extracted. The cuauhxicalli was typically carved with images of the sun and the eagle, and it was a symbol of the offering to the sun.
The Symbolism of the Heart
The Mexica believed that the heart was the seat of the soul and the source of life, and that the offering of the heart to the gods was the most effective way of sustaining the gods. The Mexica also believed that the heart contained a portion of the divine force that resided in each person, called the teyolia, and that the offering of the heart was a way of returning this divine force to the gods. The Mexica believed that the gods required the heart to maintain their divine power, and that without the constant offering of hearts, the gods would weaken and the cosmos would come to an end.
The Mexica also believed that the heart was a symbol of the sun, and that the offering of the heart was a way of feeding the sun. The Mexica believed that the sun required a constant supply of hearts to fuel its daily journey across the sky, and that the offering of the heart was a way of ensuring that the sun would continue to rise. The Mexica also believed that the heart was a symbol of the moon and the stars, and that the offering of the heart was a way of maintaining the cosmic order.
The Significance of the Practice
The practice of heart extraction was central to Mexica human sacrifice, and it was a defining feature of the Mexica state religion. The practice was performed at the Templo Mayor and at the other major temples, and it was the central act of the major religious ceremonies. The practice was also a public event, and it was witnessed by thousands of spectators, who would gather to watch the sacrifice and to participate in the religious rituals.
The practice of heart extraction has been the subject of much scholarly analysis, and it is now recognized as a distinctive and most important features of Mexica religion. The practice has been compared to similar practices in other religious traditions, including the Christian practice of communion and the Jewish practice of circumcision. The practice is also an important part of the modern Mexican national identity, and it is widely remembered in Mexican popular culture and in the national mythology.
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