The Aztec glyph for Tenochtitlan, from the Codex Telleriano-Remensis (16th century). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The ancient Aztecs had a fascinating culture. Here are a few interesting facts about how the Aztecs lived:
1. The Aztecs were polytheistic and recognized over 35 deities. Perhaps the most well-known is Quetzalcoatl, the god of life, wind, and the morning star.
2. Emperor Ahuitzotl recorded the sacrifice of 84,000 people for the reconsecration of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487. Most people know that the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice, but such a high number of people sacrificed for one event is still staggering.
3. The Aztecs drank a bitter chocolate drink they called xocolatl. They believed the beverage to have many beneficial properties and xoxcolatl was very popular, despite lacking the sugar that we enjoy in our hot cocoa today.
4. The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was built on Lake Texcoco using rafts piled with dirt on which trees were grown. The trees’ roots would grow down to the bottom of the lake and give the platforms stability.
For more facts about the Aztecs, click here.