Human Sacrifice: Satisfying And Surviving The Gods

1271 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Aztec sacrifices human essay

In order for the gods to be satisfied; and in order for the people of this great civilization to survive and live a steadfast, healthy, and rewarding life, a human sacrifice must be given to the gods. In order for this great civilization to prosper and grow there must be a human sacrifice offered up unto the gods. In order for the sun to keep burning and producing light and heat, which is necessary for our crops, agriculture, and all of life, there must be human sacrifice given to the gods. Thankfully, in today’s society this is not the case and people no longer believe that sacrificing a living human being is what makes the world go around. However, in the ancient Aztec civilization ranging from approximately 1100 to 1522 B.C.E. this is how the world revolved and without this procedure and practice all of human kind would fall and disappear within a short amount of time and the gods as we know would shun civilization forever. This practice of offering human sacrifice was very vital to the Aztec civilization and plays a very significant role within the military, political, and religious practices, as well as having a profound impact on the social structure of Mexica, and has had varied explanations far and near from scholars who have studied what seems to be inexplicable practices of the Aztec civilization.

To begin with, in order to maintain a profound and efficient life by living off of the land, the society must offer human sacrifices as a way to keep the gods happy and rain down their blessings upon their people. According to the text in Understanding World Societies, in Mexica society religion was the dynamic factor that transformed other aspects of the culture within economic security, social mobility, education, and war....

... middle of paper ...

...is was the every day beliefs and the faith that the Aztecs held true to life, as they knew. In today’s society, offering up a human sacrifice sounds absolutely insane and absurd, yet this was a way of life and an everyday ritual. Perhaps this was just a belief without any scientific proof that this was indeed what caused life to continue and what was needed; however, what if these findings became true and the sun really did require human blood to continue to move. What would society do? Perhaps there is some hidden village or society that is still practicing these acts and allowing the earth, the gods, and the sun to remain in constant and they have never strayed away from their beliefs that originated many years ago.

Works Cited

John P. McKay et al., Understanding World Societies A Brief History Volume 1 to 1600. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Broken Spears by Miguel Leon-Portilla

    1495 Words  | 3 Pages

    The religion and culture of the Aztecs played a role in the way the way they thought and fought. They worshiped the war-god Huitzilopochtli. He was identified with the sun and was called "the Giver of life" and "the Preserver of Life" (xxxix). The religion carried some ridiculous rituals such as human sacrifice along with using magicians and wizards to cast spells. In war conditions, human sacrifice played a big role because the Aztecs would not fight to kill,...

    Read More

  • The Aztecs: Should Historians Emphasize Agriculture or Human Sacrifice?

    794 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although there are good reasons for emphasizing human sacrifice, there are even better reasons for emphasizing agriculture. An example is the Aztecs' exceptional use of their surroundings, such as the willow trees for anchors, and reeds for frames. Human sacrifice can be also emphasized for the Aztecs' belief that the Gods needed blood, but the spotlight is on agriculture.

    Read More

  • Dbq Essay On The Aztecs

    1731 Words  | 4 Pages

    Read those last few words again. As said in the popular children’s show Sesame Street, “one of these things is not like the other”. The integration of human sacrifice into Aztec culture was not nearly as subtle as written above, though: The most important Aztec deity in their whole religion, Huitzilopochtli, was the sun god. According to Aztec creation myths, Huitzilopochtli required a great deal of power to raise the sun every morning and keep the night from overpowering for too long. This strength was drawn from regular consumption of human blood and heart.

    Read More

  • Aztec Human Sacrifice Analysis

    1212 Words  | 3 Pages

    Why did the culture and customs require human blood to survive? How did high Aztec society view these sacrifice? These answers are easy to obtain using anthropology and archeology and historical documents from the time such as the infamous letters of Cortez. To the first question o why did the Aztecs practice human sacrifice to understand the reasons one must understand their epic religious beliefs. The Aztecs thought the world would end if they did not sacrifice human blood to their gods. The Gods were always locked in an epic battle and needed human blood to keep the universe from being destroyed. According to Aztec mythology, this world was the fifth and last universe so human blood was needed to continue the universe and prevent its destruction. The world had been destroyed four times before by the gods and it was up to the Aztecs who thought they were in the center of the world to stop its

    Read More

  • Comparison of The Aztecs and The Incas

    1543 Words  | 4 Pages

    At the root of these interesting rituals, were the beliefs that the gods needed to be nourished by human beings. This was accomplished through human blood. They did this through a practice called bloodletting. Bloodletting is intentionally harming and drawing blood from the body. Those who were higher in status within the Aztec religion were expected to give the most blood during these Aztec rituals.

    Read More

  • Maya And Aztecs Compare And Contrast Essay

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Aztecs believed they owed the gods everything for creating them and the world around them, therefore the gods needed to be fed or nourished daily. To honor their gods and show their gratitude they performed human sacrifices by offering hearts and blood. In doing so, they believed human sacrifices would ensure their existence to the world, and in turn help them in their after life. Aztecs also saw these rituals as a way to send a political message to control their own citizens and instill fear in their foreign neighbors. These sacrifices were performed by a specialized priest at the great temple, the Huey Teocalli, at the very top of the pyramid for all to witness. The heart was cut out while the victim was still alive. The still beating heart would then be burned in offering to the chosen god. Afterward, the body was thrown down the stairs of the pyramid where the head was then cut off and placed on a skull rack, known as a Tzompantli, displayed for all to see. (Ancient History

    Read More

  • The Aztec Human Sacrifices

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the mid-fourteenth century, the Aztecs used the method of human sacrifices to uphold fear in their neighbors by using the method year round to please the gods and ensure their survival. According to Aztec legend, the first world was created by a dual god- meaning that it was both a female and male- called Ometeotl. The Aztec pantheon included hundreds of gods, all who originated from Ometeotl himself. The Aztecs also believed that the gods represented forces of nature, such as rain, and also human characteristics (Benson 504). Prior to the current world the Aztecs believed that there were four other worlds, all which ended with a major catastrophe.

    Read More

  • Mesoamerican Empires

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both the Mayas and the Aztecs worshipped their gods through human sacrifice. The Olmecs were so dedicated to their gods that they transported 50 tons of boulders from the mountains to the shore. For the Mayas, even their games were related to their religion. The Aztec society was constantly at war for the sole purpose of making sacrifices to their many gods. Religion dominated the cultures of these Mesoamerican empires.

    Read More

  • Aztec Mesoamerican Sacrifice

    445 Words  | 1 Pages

    Some people may say that we should emphasize agriculture when looking at Aztec society because they made chinampas, and used slash and burn farming to fertile the land and they had may food they they ate. But in reality Human sacrifice is more important because they did it for agriculture so they conducted each other. They assumed that without sacrifice the crops wouldn't be okay. So this all revolved around human sacrifice, human sacrifice for

    Read More

  • The Similarities and Differences between Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism

    1179 Words  | 3 Pages

    McKay, J/P/, Hill, B.D., Buckler, J., Ebrey, P.B., Beck, R.B., Crowston, C.H., & Wiesner-Hanks, M.E. (2008). A History of World Societies, Volume A: From Antiquity to 1500. New York, NY: Bedford/St. Martin's

    Read More

  • Blue Tezcatlipoca

    961 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Aztecs had an interesting way of honoring Tezcatlipoca, as well as some of the other gods, they sacrificed a living representative of the god. Each year, priests would choose a healthy young man, free from any scar or blemish, and ritually make him the representative of Tezcatlipoca on earth. The official title of the young man was __Ixiptla__. For a year, he would live in the height of luxury showered by gifts, women, and banquets in his honor. At the end of the year, he would climb the steps of the temple where the priest would be waiting to sacrifice him by ripping his heart out of his chest. You might ask why someone would allow such a thing, but among the Aztecs, it was an honor to be chosen and the height of sacred duty to serve as the god for a year and die at the appropriate

    Read More

  • Human Sacrifice In The Aztec

    487 Words  | 1 Pages

    Human sacrifice was important in religious purposes as it was seen as a way to please the Gods. The Aztecs seen it as the human sacrifices would please Huitzilopochtli who was the Sun God as well as the God of War. The Aztecs believed in order for the Sun to keep burning and to also keep humans prospering was through human sacrifice. Leading up to the sacrifice there would be huge festivals and feasts following up to the sacrifice. The sacrifices would be killed at the “center stage” where they would be surrounded by a dancing group dressed in costumes and decorations, lots of flowers, and even had thousands of the people living there attending the sacrifice. The victims either were beheaded, had their beating heart cut out while they were still alive, and some were even skinned while still alive. After the sacrifice was complete the victim’s skulls, bones, skin were kept and even seen as relics.

    Read More

  • Aztec Sacrifice Essay

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    The topic of human sacrifices has been relevant throughout history. It has been practiced, usually as a ritual, in numerous cultures each having their own special twist added to it. Many people have disagreed with this act simply because it is the act of taking one’s life. Sacrifices in general are typically done to appeal to their kings, gods, spirits or ancestors. Human sacrifice can also be done with the intention of winning the favor of the gods in warfare. These rituals were performed as religious symbolism towards their way of life and how they function as one civilization.

    Read More

  • Cultural Issues In The Caribbean Essay

    750 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some cultures in the Spanish Caribbean participate in sacrificing and they also hold clergy to a different standard than those in the United States. Some of the religious practices they have also involved monotheism although polytheism is more customary. Some often look at their sacrifice as odd, disgusting and inhumane. When in reality most of us come from cultures that historically made sacrifices and were

    Read More

  • Ritualistic Sacrifice in The Strong Breed

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wole Soyinka, like other Nigerian writers, characterizes the conflict of cultural and religious choices in his country and emphasizes the distinct customs of society (Tucker 9). Born into the Yoruba tribe and culture, Soyinka’s writings are clearly influenced by Yoruba culture and practices. Communities and societies in Africa today religiously partake in ancient rituals that some may consider extreme, such as cannibalism and self-mutilation. In the village in The Strong Breed, the extent to which individuals will go in order to rid a community of its sins and faults is tested by the sadistic annual sacrificial killing of an innocent individual for communal benefit. Wole Soyinka introduces ritualistic human societies that expose the ferocity of human beings and emphasize the cruel nature of their members. The moral disgust that permeates the community prior and subsequent to the ritual, the uncommon traits seen in characters triggered by a ritualistic society, and dialogue that highlights increasing ferocity of human beings, brings into question the validity of whether or not ritualistic sacrifice is ultimately beneficial to a community.

    Read More

More about Human Sacrifice: Satisfying And Surviving The Gods

Open Document