The Aztec religion is one of the most ancient in Mesoamerica. For sunrise, the Aztec gods face opposite directions. Quetzalcoatl looks east. The Sun rises eastward and sways to one side. In the morning, a massive sacrifice is made to the wind god Ecatl. After this huge sacrifice, Ecatl the wind god sets the sun to motion.
Mesoamerican religions of ancient times
Ancient Mesoamerican religion held the gods as a central part of daily life. Rituals often included sacrifices and other offerings. In these societies, a complex priestly hierarchy was established. The architectural pattern for building temples was the same, with pyramids on top that were truncated and containing sanctuaries. The religion also included a shared universeview and the use space symbols.
Gods
Aztec gods can be described as a wide variety of creatures depending on their specific functions. Some were revered for their violence, while others were respected and fearful. Others had more positive and optimistic attributes. Mictlantecuhtli for instance, was an Aztec god of death. The Aztecs believed her descent into the underworld was after she was sacrificed as a baby. After her death, she married Miclantecuhtl (another Aztec god of the dead). Mictlantecuhtli had a graphic appearance, with a wide mouth and a necklace of eyeballs.
Sacrifices
Sacrifices made up a significant part of Aztec religious belief. They were used to increase status and income. The Aztec religion relied upon tributes from conquered countries, and humans were an integral part of this process. Higher status and higher places in society were granted to those who are considered the greatest warriors. The emperor also gave them special clothing and weapons. These rewards were accepted by the whole Aztec society.
Sacred fire
The Aztec religion was based on sacred fire. They believed that the world was composed of three levels, which included the underworld and the earth as well as the heavens. The Templo Mayor (Temple of the Mayor), which was the heart of the system that linked the three realms, was the Templo Mayor. The heavenly realm was home to the gods and the underworld was home to the humans.
Tlaloc
Many representations of Tlaloc are found in the Aztec religion. These depictions of the rain god are not always consistent. Often, Tlaloc is depicted in many forms and in different places, including caves and mountaintops. Tlaloc may be shown with items that symbolize the fertility of the earth. Tlaloc might also be associated with land animals in some depictions, such as a jaguar.
Quetzalcoatl
There are many myths associated with the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. One popular myth describes the serpent-headed god Quetzalcoatl as the ruler over the mythic city Tollan. However, there is much disagreement about the historical accuracy of the myths. Some historians even question the historical accuracy of some myths and legends about Quetzalcoatl.