Handbook to life in the Aztec world

465 Pages·2006·7.12 MB·English

by  Manuel Aguilar-Moreno

HANDBOOK
TO LIFE IN THE
AZTEC WORLD
MANUEL AGUILAR-MORENO
California State University, Los Angeles
Handbook to Life in the Aztec World
Copyright © 2006 by Manuel Aguilar-Moreno, foreword by John M. D. Pohl
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Aguilar-Moreno, Manuel.
Handbook to life in the Aztec world / by Manuel Aguilar-Moreno.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8160-5673-0
1. Aztecs—History. 2. Aztecs—Social life and customs. 3. Aztecs—Antiquities. 4. Mexico—Antiquities.
I. Title.
F1219.73.A35 2005
972’.018—dc222005006636
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Text design by Cathy Rincon
Cover design by Semadar Megged
Maps by Dale Williams based on drawings by Lluvia Arras
Printed in the United States of America
VB FOF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
To the mestizo and Indian people who struggle daily to improve the quality of life and
social justice in our beloved, but long-suffering country of Mexico
—Manuel Aguilar-Moreno
On August 13th of 1521, heroically defended by Cuauhtemoc, the City of Tlatelolco
fell in the hands of Hernán Cortés. It was not a triumph neither a defeat, but the
painful birth of the Mexican people.
—Memorial inscription in the Plaza of the
Three Cultures, Tlatelolco, Mexico City

C
ONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii 3 GEOGRAPHY OF THE AZTEC
WORLD 51
LIST OF MAPS ix The Concept of Sacred Landscape 52
The Valley of Mexico: The Land, the
Lake, and Natural Resources 56
LIST OF TABLES ix
The Island City of Tenochtitlan 59
City-States and Neighboring
FOREWORD BY JOHN M. D. POHL xi
Peoples 65
Linguistic History and Distribution of
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xvii
the Nahua Peoples 67
Reading 71
INTRODUCTION xix
4 SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT 73
GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION AND Social Structure and Class
SPELLING OF NAHUATL TERMS xxiii Hierarchy 74
Tlatoani 75
1 MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS Cihuacoatl 86
AND AZTEC ARCHAEOLOGY 1 Priests 87
The Area of Mesoamerica 2 Tecuhtli 92
The People of Mesoamerica 5 Calpulli 92
Brief History of Aztec Archaeology 19 Household 93
Main Historical Primary Sources about Reading 95
the Aztec 24
Reading 26 5 WARFARE 97
Training 98
2 EVOLUTION OF AZTEC Military Ranks and Orders 102
CIVILIZATION 27 Military Intelligence 106
Origins and the Great Migration 28 Women and War 107
Mexica-Aztec History 36 Uniforms and Weapons 108
Reading 49 Battle Tactics and Strategies 120
Principal Aztec Military Campaigns 127 11 THE CALENDAR, ASTRONOMY,
Tribute 131 AND MATHEMATICS 289
Flower Wars 133 The Calendar System 290
Reading 134 Concept of the Universe 300
Astronomy 304
6 RELIGION, COSMOLOGY, AND Mathematics 311
MYTHOLOGY 137 Reading 315
Structure of the Universe 138
Main Myths 139 12 ECONOMY, INDUSTRY,
The Aztec Gods 144 AND TRADE 317
Rituals 152 Modes of Production 318
Ritual Human Sacrifice 153 Agriculture and Chinampas 321
Reading 157 Use of Water in the Valley of Mexico 326
Food Sources 328
7 FUNERARY BELIEFS AND Laborers and Artisans 332
CUSTOMS 159 The Marketplace 338
Creation Myths and Concepts about Transportation 341
Death 160 Long-Distance Trade 343
Funerary Places of The Pochtecah 346
Destination 162 Tribute 349
Burials and Cremation 166 Reading 349
Souls 170
13 DAILY LIFE 351
Human Sacrifice 172
Family 352
Reading 175
Women 353
Education 357
8 AZTEC ART 177
Shamanism and Medicine 359
Aztec Artists and Craftsmen 178
Games 361
Monumental Stone Sculpture 179
Personal Appearance and Attire 364
Terra-cotta Sculpture 204
Royal Court Life 369
Ceramics 206
Food and Drink 371
Wood Art 208
Music and Dance 374
Feather Work 210
Reading 377
Lapidary Arts 212
Gold Work 214
14 THE AZTEC AFTER THE
Reading 215
CONQUEST AND TODAY 379
The Conquest of Mexico 380
9 AZTEC ARCHITECTURE 217
Colonial Mexico: The Process of
Symbolism 218
Transculturation 384
Types of Architecture 220
TequitquiArt 390
Building Materials and
Mexico and Its Mestizo Identity 392
Techniques 225
The Indians of Central Mexico Today 398
The Precinct of Tenochtitlan 225
Reading 399
Other Cities 238
Reading 260
MAIN MUSEUMS CONTAINING
AZTEC COLLECTIONS 401
10 NAHUATL LITERATURE 261
Tlacuilosand Their Techniques 262
AZTEC POEMS 403
Codices 264
Pictographic-Phonetic Writing 275 BIBLIOGRAPHY 407
Poetry and Narrative 282
Reading 288 INDEX 419
L I
IST OF LLUSTRATIONS
Manos and Metates for Grinding Maize Uniforms of the Tlatoaniand the Pochtecah 117
and Seeds 6 Uniforms of the Tlacateccatl, Tlacochcalcatl,
Olmec Colossal Head from San Lorenzo 9 Huitznahuatl,and Ticocyahuacatl 118
Atlantes on Temple of Uniforms of a Warrior Priest and
Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tula 17 a Mexica Warrior 119
Illustration of Coatlicue 20 Burning of a Temple 124
Image of Aztlan, Codex Boturini 28 Flower War 133
Chicomoztoc, Historia tolteca-chichimecaand First Human Couple, Oxomoco
Map of Cuauhtinchan No. 2 30 and Cipactonal 141
Chicomoztoc, Codex Vaticanus Aand Mayahuel, Goddess of Maguey and Pulque 141
Atlas of Durán 31 Huitzilopochtli, the War and Sun God 148
Birth of Huitzilopochtli at Coatepec, Codex Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent 150
Azcatitlan 34 Xipe Totec, God of the Renewal of Vegetation 151
Foundation of Tenochtitlan, Codex Mendoza 37 Xiuhtecuhtli, God of Fire 152
Genealogy of Aztec Rulers 38 Types of Human Sacrifice 155
Mt. Tlaloc and Temple of Ehecatl, Huexotla 54 Mictlantecuhtli and Mictlancihuatl,
View of the city of Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco 62 the God and Goddess of Death 160
TlatoaniSeated on His Icpalli 75 Chichihuacuauhco 163
Palace of Motecuhzoma II 86 The Thirteen Heavens and Nine Hells 164
Portrait of Tlacaelel 87 Tlalocan, Tepantitla Mural, Teotihuacan 165
Types of Priests 88 Mummy Bundle of an Aztec King 168
Students Arrive at the Telpochcalli 99 Souls Leaving the Body 171
Veteran Soldier and Two Novices 101 Ocelotl-Cuauhxicalli 180
Aztec Warriors, Including an Otomitl, Cuauhtli-Cuauhxicalli 181
a Cuauhchic,and a Tlacateccatl 104 The Sun Stone 181
The Cuauhcalli 105 Stone of Tizoc 182
Terra-cotta Image of Eagle Warrior 106 Temalacatl-Cuauhxicalliof Motecuhzoma I 183
Women Defending Their Community 108 Detail of the Stone of Tizoc 183
Aztec Weaponry and Equipment 112 Dedication Stone of Emperors Tizoc
A Maquahuitl 114 and Ahuitzotl 184
Eagle, Jaguar, and Coyote Helmets Stone of the Warriors 185
and Tlahuiztli 116 The Bench Relief 185
Ichcahuipilliand Ehuatl 117 The Temple Stone 187
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
vii
Stone Portrait of Motecuhzoma II 187 Interior of the House of the Eagle Warriors 236
The Caracol 188 Plan of the Sacred Precinct of Tenochtitlan 238
Tlaltecuhtli 189 Pyramid of Tenayuca 239
Coatlicue 190 Coatepantliof Tenayuca 240
Coatlicue of Coxcatlan (Earth Goddess) 191 Dual Pyramid of Santa Cecilia Acatitlan 240
Cihuacoatl 192 Main Pyramid of Teopanzolco 241
Xiuhtecuhtli-Huitzilopochtli 193 Twin Pyramid of Tlatelolco 242
Coyolxauhqui Relief 193 Temple of the Calendar, Tlatelolco 243
Head of Coyolxauhqui 194 View of Tetzcotzinco and Its Aqueduct 245
Xochipilli 194 Plan of Tetzcotzinco 246
The Feathered Serpent 195 The “King’s Baths” in Tetzcotzinco 247
Xiuhcoatl 196 Pyramid of Tepoztlan 248
Chacmoolof the Tlaloc Shrine 196 Atrioof the Church of San Luis, Huexotla 249
Tlaloc-Chacmool 197 Wall of Huexotla 250
Chicomecoatl 197 Temple of Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl in
Huehueteotl 198 Calixtlahuaca 252
Cihuateotl 199 Tlaloc Cluster with Tzompantli,Calixtlahuaca 252
Altar of the Planet Venus 199 Plan of the Site of Coatetelco 253
Altar of Itzpapalotl 200 Temple I (the Cuauhcalli) of Malinalco 254
Tepetlacalliwith Zacatapayolliand Plan of the Site of Malinalco 255
Bloodletting Figure 200 Details of the Facade of Temple I, Malinalco 256
Stone Box of Motecuhzoma II 201 Detail of the Eagle Representing
Jaguar Warrior 202 Huitzilopochtli, Temple I, Malinalco 257
Feathered Coyote 202 Temples III, IV, and VI, Malinalco 259
Eagle Warrior 204 Map of Colhuacan from Las Relaciones
Mictlantecuhtli 205 Geográficas del Siglo XVI 265
Vessel with Mask of Tlaloc 206 Chalchiuhtlicue in the Codex Borbonicus 267
Funerary Urn with Image of Tezcatlipoca 207 Writing of the Word Balam 275
Huehuetl of Malinalco 208 Pictographic Writing of the Word Xochimilli 276
Wooden Teponaztliin the Shape of an Animal 210 Pictographic Example of Ce huehuetlacatl
Chalice Cover Made of Feathers 212 xaltlahtoa 277
Turquoise Mask 213 Example of the Use of Nahuatl Phoneticism
Double-Headed Serpent Pectoral 213 in the Name San Francisco 278
Knife Blade with Image of a Face 214 The Name Pablo MacuilcoatlWritten
Orientation of a Pyramid-Temple 219 Pictographically and Phonetically 280
The Pyramid-Temple as an Axis Mundi 221 The toponym TollantzincoWritten in a
Ball Court at Coatetelco 223 Pictographic-Phonetic Combination 282
Aqueduct of Chapultepec 224 Representation of the TonalpohualliCycle 291
Superimpositions of the Great Temple 230 Cosmogram Incorporating the
Frontal View of the Great Temple 231 260-Day Calendar 293
The Seven Phases of Construction of The Hill of the Star (Huixachtlan) 299
the Great Temple 233 New Fire Ceremony, Codex Borbonicus 300
The Phase II Shrines of Tlaloc and Schematic Representation of the Aztec
Huitzilopochtli, the Great Temple 234 Concept of Time and Space 302
Phase III Stairway and Three Statues, Chief Priest Making an Astronomical
the Great Temple 235 Observation 305
General View of the Great Temple and Nezahualpilli Observing a Comet 305
the Phase IV Coyolxauhqui Stone 235 Sky Watching Using Cross-stick 305
HANDBOOK TO LIFE IN THE AZTEC WORLD
viii
Aztec and Western Astral Bodies and Image of a Midwife Handling a Delivery 355
Important Constellations 306 An Auianime 356
Drawings of the Moon 309 PatolliGame 361
Path of the Sun on the equinox, Great Temple 310 Ball Court, Xochicalco 362
Counting Methods 311 Aztec Ball Court 363
Symbols for Different Numbers 313 Attire of Aztec Men 364
Symbolic Notation for Number 393 314 Attire of an Aztec Noblewoman 365
Aztec Farmers Using a Coato Cultivate Maize 319 Maize and Maize Products 373
Maguey Farmers 323 Aztec Musicians with Typical Instruments 376
View of a Canal and Chinampa 324 Tomb of Hernán Cortés 381
Model of a Chinampa 325 Meeting of Cortés and Motecuhzoma 383
Feather Working 333 Mural of the First Franciscan Missionaries in
Backstrap Loom and Weaving Tools 336 Mexico, Huejotzingo 387
Tlacuilos 337 The Virgin of Guadalupe 389
Tlatelolco Market 338 Acolman Cross, Mexico State 390
Section of the Tlatelolco Market 339 TequitquiMural of the Earthly Paradise,
Pochtecah 345 Malinalco 391
A Marriage Ceremony 354
L M
IST OF APS
Mesoamerica 4 Extension of the Aztec Empire, 1519 80
Lake Tetzcoco and the Valley of Mexico 57 Sacred Precinct of Tenochtitlan and
The Island City of Tenochtitlan, with Its Surrounding Imperial Palaces and Market 85
Sacred Precinct 61 City of Tenochtitlan, 1524 226
Distribution of Uto-Aztecan Languages 68
L T
IST OF ABLES
Chronological Chart of Mesoamerica 3 Nahuatl (or Aztecan) Dialect Groups 70
Family Tree of Indo-European Languages 69 Nahuatl Syllabary 279
Cognates of Uto-Aztecan Languages 69 The Thirteen Veintenasof the Tonalpohualli 292
Family Tree of Uto-Aztecan Languages 70 The Eighteen Months of the Xiuhpohualli 294
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
ix