In the 13th century, it is likely that the Aztecs, originally a nomadic tribe of hunter-gatherers, first arrived in Mesoamerica, forming their capital city of Tenochititlan in 1325 A.D.. The name “Aztlan” means “white land” and the term “aztec” refers to all groups living in the Valley of Mexico (15-16ce.), but in particular, the Tenochka tribe of the Mexica group. When they came, they overpowered the previously dominant clan of the Toltecs. The Tenochka tribe consisted of skilled temple architects, artisans, engineers and craft guilds. Their city, Tenochititlan, was first settled near lake Texcoco, on the spot where an eagle with a snake in its mouth landed on a prickly pear cactus, now a well-known symbol of Mexico.

The Aztecs had a rich belief system and multiple gods for the various forces of nature. When the gods first created the earth, supposedly in Tenochititlan, they each sacrificed themselves into a fire, creating a “moving sun”. According to the Aztecs, this moving sun signified the fifth, and final era of our world, which would ultimately be destroyed by an earthquake. This is also an explanation as to why human sacrifice was so fundamentally important to the Aztec religion. The most important sacrifice was considered blood, which would be offered by priests, for example, at the top of the Templo Mayor (“Great Pyramid”). The twin temples of the city were located at the north end, Tlaloc Temple (blue), and at the south end, Huitzilopochtli Temple (red). 

The blue temple was built in honor of Tlaloc, the god of peace, rain, fertility and a symbol of the winter equinox, while the red temple was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun, war, dryness, and the summer solstice. Other important Aztec gods include Mother Earth, Coatlicue, the mother of Huitzilopochti, and her daughter, Coyolxauhqui (or, “bells for cheeks”), the moon goddess. Coatlicue (or, “serpent skirt”) is represented by a massive stone sculpture, about 9 feet tall, in Temple Mayor. She has clawed hands, taloned feet, and wears a necklace of human hearts and hands. Truly the earth goddess, she is the giver and the taker of life. Coyolxauhqui, on the other hand, is made of a large, carved stone disk, and shows a woman with dismembered limbs, a skull + snake belt, and monster-face joints. 

As the myth goes, she was magically impregnated by a ball of hummingbird feathers, giving birth to full-grown Huitzilopochti. Due to Coyolxauhqui’s disapproval of her mother, she and her 400 siblings, the stars, she decapitated her while attempting to kill her. However, Huitzilopochtli came to the rescue of his mother and defended her from his sister, severing many of her limbs. It is because of this battle in the sky, between Huitzilopochti and Coyolxauhqui that the sun sets and rises every twelve hours. This makes these moments where the sky changes moments of extreme precaution. 

Because of these spiritual beliefs, the Aztecs created a ritual where a human would be sacrificed at the top of Temple Mayor. Their blood would be poured on the statue of Coatlicue. Then, their bodies would be rolled down the temple, to land on the flat stone of Coyolxauhqui. This occurred on “Panquetzaliztli”, or the Raising of the Banners Festival, which was devoted to the reenactment of the snake-mountain myth. This day was based on the Aztec Calendar, which  was basically a 260 day-count recording of important ritual events of the fifth era.