The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, originated in ancient Mesoamerican cultures and the festivities that honored the Aztec god Mictlantecuthli. These festivities took place during the whole ninth month of the Aztec calendar. However, Dia de los Muertos or something very similar was already celebrated by many Indigenous people that were …
An often-used phrase in Mesoamerican (environmental) politics is la agua es vida: water is life. Even the Aztecs had a strong emphasis on water, and any deity that is related to this realm was per definition of great importance. The Aztec god Tlaloc was no different. Some of the most important Aztec temples have been …
All of us are quite familiar with chocolate and most of us love it. We crave it when we have gone without it for a long time. A few bites of it can help cheer up a miserable day. A gift of it makes us beam with pleasure. But what is the history of chocolate? …
Aztec mythology is the collection of beliefs, stories, and religious practices of the Aztec civilization, one of the world’s most famous ancient civilizations. It is drenched in the cycle of destruction and rebirth, ideas borrowed from their Mesoamerican predecessors and delicately woven into the fabrics of their own legends. Whilst the mighty Aztec empire may …
The Aztec empire, known back then as the Mexica, ruled central and southern Mexico for more than 250 years, between 1300 and 1541 AD. The empire brought together, through, trade, force, and tribute, countless different societies from the region of Mesoamerica, creating a melting pot of culture. How Many Gods Did the Aztecs Have? A …
Huizipotakl, the Sun god, is slowly rising behind the mountaintops. His light is shimmering against the gentle lake waters before you. There are trees as far as the eye can see, and the chirping of birds dominates the soundscape. Tonight, you will once again sleep amongst the stars. The sun is bright, but it is …