Aztec carvings tell story of cosmic battle

Kneeling prisoner plaque. Image courtesy by National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)

One plaque shows a star warrior carrying his chimalli (shield) in one hand and in the other a weapon for shooting darts, the same that Huitzilopochtli used to conquer Coyolxauhqui. Another shows a captive on his knees and his hands tied behind his back. Looking closer you can see a tear falls from his eye. Another of the pre-Columbian carvings shows a the profile of a decapitated man wearing an elaborate feather headdress.

The Aztec built the great temple on the Pyramid in Tenochtitlan in his honour. At its completion ceremonies, it is said that more than 20,000 human sacrifices were offered in a four day celebration. The victim’s heads were strung as trophies on the ‘great rack’ (called Tzompantli) in the village below the temple.

Source: National Institute of Anthropology and History
More information:

National Institute of Anthropology and History
Tenochtitlan
Templo Mayor, Mexico Cit

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