Why did Aztecs need Pyramids?
By Grayson B
Basic Aztec temple
This is a basic Aztec Pyramid used for religious purposes.
Citation: Aztec Temples." www.aztec-history.com. 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 1 Jan. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-temples.html>.
The pyramids of the sun and the moon.
This is the moon Pyramid as viewed from the sun temple.
Citation: Aztec Temples." www.aztec-history.com. 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 1
Citation: Aztec Temples." www.aztec-history.com. 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 1
The Chocula pyramid
This is the Chicalco church temple.
Citation: www.aztec-history.com. 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 31 July 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/cholula-pyramid.html>.
The great pyramid of Teopanzolco
This Teopanzoloco Temple was used for religious ceremonies.
Citation: www.aztec-history.com. 31 Aug. 2015. Web. 31 July 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/teopanzolco.html>.
This is the modern day restored ruins of the Cholula Pyramid visited by tourists.
Citation: aztec-history.com. Web. 31 Aug. 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/cholula-pyramid.html>.
The Great Tenochtitlan Pyramid
This is the current day ruins of The Great Tenochtitlan Pyramid.
Citation: aztec-history.com. Web. 31 Aug. 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/ancient-aztec-religion.html>.
Some monuments were temples to specific gods of the Aztecs. One example of this is Templo Mayor which honored two main gods of the Aztec people. These gods were Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. The first was the patron god of Sun and War and the second was the god of rain and fertility (fertilizing). These were important things to the Aztec people. Many humans were sacrificed to these gods when they were building the pyramids. Yikes!
Aztec-History.com. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-temples.html>.
Aztec-History.com. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-temples.html>.
Other pyramids were used for ceremonies or rituals. The most famous for the Aztecs was human sacrifices to the gods. Other rituals might have been things like blood letting and music worship. We also see that sometimes dead bodies were buried in pyramids. So funerals would have been another ceremony at the pyramid.
Aztec-History.com. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-temples.html>.
Aztec-History.com. Web. 3 Sept. 2015. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-temples.html>.
QUOTE: Bernal rode with Cortes as the Spaniards marched across the first stage of the lake causeways towards Tenochtitlan. He said, “When we saw all of those cities and villages built in the water, and other great towns on dry land, and the straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded. These great towns and pyramids and buildings rising from the water. All made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision from the tale of Amadia Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not a dream.”
Pyramids were usually used by Aztec architects to lift up or raise the temples and palaces. They had very tall steps up the side. This was very impressive to visitors to the city. These structures were made of limestone. The style used a lot snakes and serpents in the architecture. A famous example is The Temple of Quezalcoatl.
Maya Inca Aztec / Aztec Architecture. Web. 3 Sept. 3. <http://www.mayaincaaztec.com/maar.html>.
Pyramids were usually used by Aztec architects to lift up or raise the temples and palaces. They had very tall steps up the side. This was very impressive to visitors to the city. These structures were made of limestone. The style used a lot snakes and serpents in the architecture. A famous example is The Temple of Quezalcoatl.
Maya Inca Aztec / Aztec Architecture. Web. 3 Sept. 3. <http://www.mayaincaaztec.com/maar.html>.