The purpose of Aztec blood rituals

The Aztecs took blood from a range of different areas on the body and they used a variety of different sacrificial tools to extract their blood, for example, sharp points made of the agave leaf was used to pierce the outer cartilage of the ear (Nuttall 1904: 6-7). The Aztec eagle warriors, had their own ritual blades that were often carved from precious green obsidian (Del Campo no date: online).

According to Sahagun (cited from Nuttall 1904: 5), Aztec priests blood rituals were offered everyday of the year to the sun during both sunrise and noon. Another rite, named Tlazcaltiliztle was apparently an act of homage to the sun or the fire elements. It consisted of drawing a drop of blood from the ear using agave leaf points and catching it on the first fingers nail, then hurling it at the sun or into a fire (Nuttall 1904: 7).

According to Friar Duran, cited from (Nuttall 1904: 9), all priests and dignitaries during certain festivals took `small obsidian sacrificial lancets and made incisions in their tongues, ears, breasts, arms and legs.' According to Duran, cited from (Nuttall 1904: 9), most body parts were ritually offered to the gods, including the heart, though it was the bleeding of the ears that was most common to the majority of Aztec people.

At another ritual, priests stuck twigs and sticks through their calves, ears and lips. Many other people, both male and female, took long pieces of straw that were soaked in blood from being run through their ears, and piled them in front of their idol (Nuttall 1904: 9-14). The next day the priests of the temple would collect all the straw and ritually burn it (Nuttall 1904: 9-14) which signified sending the sacrificial blood to the elements of fire.

This was part two of the article: "The purpose of Aztec Blood Rituals"