Introduction

A host of interesting Gods with completely unpronounceable names. The Aztecs must have possessed the most dexterous tongues in the known world. By using Scrabble letters and adding the odd X you could probably make up your very own pantheon of Aztec deities.

The mighty Aztec Empire was happily established in the old Valley of Mexico before it became Mexico. Lots of color, festivals, feathers and enough fighting and sacrifices to keep the Gods happy and the sun shining.

There was just one slight problem. Since that nice God Quetzalcoatl had zoomed off promising to come back one rainy day, Huitzilopochtli had risen to ascendancy and he did like his heartburgers.

In fact, the Aztecs believed that the Gods needed constant supplies of fresh blood. Otherwise they would wither and die. Which is why the entire culture was built around human sacrifice. It was practically a charity gore-a-thon on the Gods’ behalf. People queued up to donate their lives. They even played football matches for the honor, with the winning team slaughtered in the semi-finals and star players earning the much-coveted sacrifical death.

Then there came a day when it was time for the 52 year Calendar Calculations. (No mere 52 week wimpishness for the Aztecs.) Now, where were all those tatty charts and ancient priests? Oh dear — what was this..?

It was the Day of Nine-Wind in the year of One-Reed, and it looked like Quetzalcoatl could return to overthrow Huitzilopochtli.

And return he did — or so it seemed. Accompanied by strange pale men and many weapons. Montezuma the current ruler chewed his nails and had another golden cup of hot chocolate. It was 1519 European Time and Cortez and the Spaniards had arrived...

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Options

Introduction to Aztec Mythology.

Use our Godbrowser™ to explore the Aztec Gods.

View the Aztec pantheon. Family trees coming soon!

Consult Godchecker’s complete alphabetical list of Aztec god and goddess names.

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