The ritual purpose of blood sacrifice in the Aztec world view is discussed in an extensive essay by Jasmyne Pendragon (Latrobe University, Australia) in the 16 Nov 2010 edition of ArchNews. A brief summary follows, but see the link below for the full essay and bibliography.
The Aztec's reigned during 1376 to 1521 CE from their capital at Tenochtitlan which was situated in the heart of Lake Texcoco in the Basin of Mexico. A walled in ceremonial centre was positioned in the heart of Tenochtitlan that housed the Great Temple that was jointly dedicated to the sun and the rain gods. Inside the ceremonial centre there were priestly residences, other temples and a huge skull rack that housed the heads of sacrificial victims in varying stages of decomposition.
The Aztecs built their empire from tribute, conquest, acquisition, warfare and blood sacrifices, although they did create three worthy allies and form a triple alliance with their neighbouring cities Texcoco and Tlacopan. However, not all of their conquered neighbours ... were happy with the Aztec's thirst for blood sacrifice or the constant requests for tribute that the Aztecs demanded of them.
The Aztec's were a violent [and highly ritualistic] people whom practised human sacrifice and cannibalism ... and had a fatalistic behaviour or view towards life. The Aztecs lifestyles were governed by a need to supply fresh-blooded sacrificial victims to the sun god who required the sacrificial hearts of men to give life to the world and assist the souls of dead warriors to the Aztecs version of heaven.
...It sounds vile and sickening ... because modern city dwellers generally have [little contact with the dead or decomposition].. Therefore, the concept of Aztec behavioural practices of death, dying and blood sacrifice seem repugnant and cruel to modern people. however, for the Aztec's the concept of dualism was obvious and beautiful because from the moment of conception, death was a dual counterpart of their life.
In the Aztecs society, death was visual and commonly displayed for the public to see; therefore, it is likely that behaving in a cruel barbaric or atrocious manner was probably not what the Aztecs were thinking. ...Blood rituals were considered part of a reciprocal relationship between humankind and god; the ultimate gift is blood sacrifice and is amongst the highest honour one can pay to the gods. Aztec blood rituals were an act of reciprocity for the blood the gods sacrificed of themselves in order to create the sun and the cosmos.
Blood sacrifices ensured the gods would remain helpful and they ensured the sun would continue to shine, the fields would grow abundant crops and the wheels of life would continue to turn. According to Kastenbaum sacrifice is a form of communication with deity or God that allows one to gain forgiveness, blessings, fertility, victories and protection from prevailing negative or dark forces.
Virtually all-Aztec artefacts bare witness to the Aztec's constant desire and purpose of human sacrificial victims. The many Mexican codices, for example the Codex Borgia displayed [on the 260-day ritual calendar] the need for sacrifice and blood in varying forms ... in graphic detail. [This] is implied from the belief that if they did not sacrifice themselves and their blood, the sun would cease to shine and the fifth world would come to an end,therefore destroying all life as the Aztecs knew it.
For much more, see http://www.archnews.co.uk, 16Nov10.
Thanks to coldrum for the submission.
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