Aztec Pyramids


Aztec Pyramids
Aztec Pyramid

The Aztecs were an ethnic group with a rich mythological and cultural heritage, who lived in the Mexican valley between the 12th and 16th century AD. An extremely religious race, they believed extensively in the practice of human sacrifice. Their architectural grandeur reflected the values and beliefs that existed in those times.

Aztec architecture is best described as colossal, intending chiefly to manifest their power, while simultaneously adhering to strong religious beliefs. Chiefly influenced by the Toltecs of Cohuacan, the Tepanecs of Atzcapotzalco, and the Acolhuas of Tetzcoco, the Aztecs relied on their architecture to endorse their military strength. The most amazing aspects of it were the magnificent Aztec pyramids, which were built in order to worship their various deities and most importantly, to offer human sacrifices. According to their beliefs, human sacrifices were necessary to repay God’s blessings, and it was conducted periodically. Essentially sun and moon worshippers, the pyramids were positioned incredibly like a giant celestial calendar, and when the planets line up, it was possible to see the respective celestial body, when atop the corresponding pyramid. These pyramids also represented mountains, a source of life-sustaining water and fertility, and they were also considered as abodes of ancestral spirits, since most important people were buried within them.

The Great Pyramid In Tenochtitlan


The capital of the Aztec empire was Tenochtitlan, an overwhelming city, where the most impressive and monumental Aztec architecture, The Great Pyramid rose majestically, 60m above the city. The pyramid was a colossal structure, possessing a natural sense of order and geometrical symmetry. It consisted of four step-like platforms built on top of each other, and they related to the four cardinal directions. Atop it was the main temple of Tenochtitlan, which was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and sun, and Tlaloc, the god of rain and fertility.

The Appearance Of Aztec Pyramids


A Serpent Head On Aztec Pyramid
A Serpent Head On Aztec Pyramid

The appearance of most temples was similar due to its symmetrical terraces and steep steps with ornamental balustrades, rising from the centre and pointing towards the heavens. Serpent heads made of stone were significantly placed at the end of the stairs, chiefly to ward away evil spirits. The wide platform itself was decorated with sculpted stone blocks and human skulls. The temples and the staircase always faced the western direction. Flat plateaus or sacrificial blocks were built on the top of the pyramids, with an adjacent chamber for the idol and an antechamber for the priest. The Aztecs used bas-reliefs, walls, plazas and platforms effectively to represent their gods. Other smaller structures associated with the temple formed a closely placed complex formation around its base.

Another striking feature of the Aztec pyramid temple is the stone-representation of an eagle that is considered to be the form of Huitzilopochtli-Tonatiuh, as can be seen on temples at Tepoztlan, the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Xochicalco, the round temple of Cempoala, and the temple of Ehecatl in Calixtlahuaca.


Archaeology and historical records reveal how these temples were the main centers of the Aztecs, as it was here that most of their myths came to life through the process of elaborate rituals. The Great Pyramid, one of the finest testaments of Aztec architecture, was destroyed in 1521, along with the whole Aztec empire, by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés.