Everything You Need to Know About the Art of Aztec Civilization

In the 14th century, Moctezuma the Elder, tlatoani and supreme chief, evoked the journey made by his ancestors from Aztlan to the land where they would find the symbols announced by their god Huitzilopochtli: an eagle devouring a snake on a nopal cactus, indicating the founding point of the mythical Mexica empire.

History of Aztec Art

Aztec art is deeply intertwined with the history and traditions of the Aztec civilization. The Aztecs, originally nomadic, settled in the Valley of Mexico around 1325. Their art vividly reflects their beliefs, social structures, and daily life.

Earlier Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Olmec, Teotihuacan, and Toltec, heavily influenced Aztec art. These influences are evident in their use of complex designs, symbolic images, glyphs, and monumental architecture. The Aztecs blended these influences with their own innovations, developing a unique and distinctive artistic tradition.

However, with the arrival of the Spanish in 1519, Aztec civilization underwent great changes. The Spanish conquest, led by Hernán Cortés, brought about the fall of Tenochtitlán in 1521, marking the end of the Aztec Empire. This event drastically altered the course of Aztec art and culture. The Spaniards imposed their own artistic styles and religious imagery, resulting in a fusion of indigenous and European art forms. Despite this, the legacy of Aztec art endures and continues to captivate and inspire people around the world.

The Role of Aztec Art

For the Aztecs, art was a crucial aspect of their culture and religion. The Aztecs believed that through art they could communicate with the gods ensuring the well-being of their society, therefore, it was used in religious ceremonies and rituals of great importance, maintaining the balance of the universe and pleasing the gods.

Through various artistic manifestations the Aztecs showed their social status and political power. The wealthy paid for sophisticated works of art to display their wealth. These works of art often depicted gods, mythical creatures, and historical events, constituting a valuable record of the Mexica civilization.

Materials and Techniques

Aztec artists employed a diverse range of materials and techniques to craft their works. They used precious stones such as carnelian, jade, pearl, amethyst, rock crystal, obsidian, and conch, as well as various types of wood, turquoise, decorated skulls, clay, and exotic feathers, particularly quetzal feathers. Moreover, stone carving reached a high level of sophistication, allowing artists to create impressive sculptures and enormous pyramid temples. The Sun Stone stands out as a prime example of their craftsmanship.

Mexica artisans made pottery, figurines, and architectural decorations in clay. They often decorated their pottery with motifs and painted it with bright colors using natural pigments such as grana cochineal, purple snail, indigo, matlalxóchitl, pericón and muicle. In addition, they used resources such as achiote seeds, zacatlaxcalli, and muds such as tejotlate, palli, and tlahuhuhui to dye clothing, wood, musical instruments and ornaments for floors, walls, and altars.

In the ancestral myths of the Mexica, they describe the dazzling yellow metal known as gold as a kind of divine fluid excreted by the sun falling on the earth. The Aztecs also worked with copper and silver, but they undoubtedly preferred gold when making jewelry and ornaments.

In contrast, feathers played a significant role in creating headdresses, shields, and ceremonial clothing. The skilled art of featherwork, known as “amanteca,” was highly valued and crafted by experienced artisans.

Tradition and Architecture

Aztec architecture significantly contributes to their artistic legacy. The Aztecs built great temples, pyramids, and palaces, adorning them with intricately carved designs that depict the myths of Mexica culture. For example, Tenochtitlán’s Templo Mayor, a twin pyramid dedicated to the gods Huitzilopochtli (god of war) and Tlaloc (god of rain), showcases their architectural mastery.

In the 20th century, archaeologists discovered the Templo Mayor, a sacred building that was destroyed after the conquest of the indigenous metropolis. Its remains had been hidden for four centuries beneath the foundations of colonial and 19th-century buildings in Mexico City.

Its facade faced west, with a double staircase adorned with menacing and protective snake heads illuminated by the light of the sunset. Historians and archaeologists have determined that only priests and sacrificial victims could ascend these stairs to the top of the temple, offering a spectacular view of the surrounding valley.

Temples functioned not only as places of worship, but also as centers of social and political activities. The architecture reflected the cosmological beliefs of the Aztecs, with layouts and designs often aligned with astronomical events.

Aztec Artworks to Know

Several famous pieces of Aztec art have survived the passage of time, thanks to the dedicated preservation efforts of various specialists. These pieces demonstrate the creative skill of the Aztecs. Let’s explore some of these works.

1. Coyolxauhqui Stone

In 1978, archaeologists discovered the Stone of Coyolxauhqui at the base of the main temple in what is now Mexico City. This circular stone carving, dating from 1473, depicts the dismembered body of the moon goddess Coyolxauhqui after she confronted her brother, the sun god Huitzilopochtli. This intricately carved stone provides crucial information about Aztec mythology and religious practices.

2. Xiuhtecuhtli Mask

The Aztec mask of Xiuhtecuhtli shows the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Aztec civilization. Xiuhtecuhtli, the god of fire and time, was one of the most important deities in Aztec mythology. The meticulous attention to detail, using precious materials such as turquoise, nacre, and obsidian, embodies the divine essence of the god.

In addition, the mask of Xiuhtecuhtli was not only a work of art, but also a religious object. When priests and worshippers wore this mask, they believed they could connect with the divine power of Xiuhtecuhtli, ensuring the continuity of time and the cycle of life and death. This mask testifies to the deep religious beliefs and exceptional technical and aesthetic skills of the Aztecs.

3. Tlaloc Vessel

Aztec artisans made Tlaloc vessels to show their respect for the deity. They were usually made of clay and often had elaborate designs, such as the eyes and fanged mouth which are part of the mythological Tlaloc. The Aztecs decorated the vessels in bright colors.

The Aztecs used these vessels to make offerings to Tlaloc, especially during droughts or before planting. They filled the vessels with water, seeds or other objects and offered them to Tlaloc asking for rain.

4. Sun Stone

The sun stone is one of the most famous Aztec works of art. This huge stone carving is 3 meters in diameter and weighs more than 24 tons. It represents the Aztec calendar cosmology. The central figure represents Tonatiuh, the god of the sun. Unlike Huitzilopochtli, this god provides energy for battle and survival. He was represented surrounded by symbols representing days, months, and cosmic ages. The sun stone shows the Aztecs knew a lot about astronomy and believed time goes in cycles.

5. Aztec Codices

Aztec scribes, known as tlacuilos, used a variety of materials to create codices. The most common materials were deer hide and amatl, a type of paper made from the inner bark of fig trees. The tlacuilos prepared the surfaces by stretching, scraping, and smoothing them to create a suitable writing surface. They then used fine brushes made from animal hair to apply vibrant natural pigments, including red from cochineal insects, blue from indigo, and yellow from ochre.

Codex Mendoza

Aztec scribes created the Codex Mendoza around 1541, and it became one of the most famous Aztec codices. This comprehensive document provides detailed descriptions of Aztec society, including tribute payments, social structure, and daily life. The Spanish viceroy Antonio de Mendoza commissioned the codex to inform the Spanish king about Aztec customs and achievements. It contains images and symbols that vividly depict Aztec life.

Codex Borgia

This important book focuses on religion and ceremonies. Unlike the politically oriented Codex Mendoza, Codex Borgia contains images of Aztec gods, rituals, and the Aztec worldview. It features complex illustrations of gods like Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc, as well as calendars and star observations.

Codex Borbonicus

This document predates the arrival of Europeans and mainly discusses religious ceremonies and the sacred calendar. It is one of the few surviving pre-Hispanic codices. Codex Borbonicus is characterized by its detailed depictions of rituals, divinatory practices, and the 260-day tonalpohualli calendar. The vibrant illustrations offer insights into Aztec spirituality and cosmology.

Codex Fejérváry-Mayer

This ritual document provides extensive information on the Aztec calendar system. At the center of the Codex Fejérváry-Mayer is a diagram of the universe, surrounded by images of gods, rituals, and days of the year. This codex is crucial for understanding Aztec beliefs and the science behind their calendar.