Rochester La Voz Making Sense Of The Aztecs' Human Sacrifices
One of history’s greatest misconceptions is the Aztecs’ human sacrifices. Though viewed as barbaric to modern-day eyes, such rituals were an essential part of the civilization’s religion and had massive spiritual symbolism. There were three kinds of sacrifices: self-sacrifices (effusions of blood); those associated with war; and agrarian ones. Contrary to modern belief, the sacrifices were not a daily occurrence. Instead, they were part of festivals or offerings to a deity. Such rites were part of Aztec philosophy, an introduction to their gods’ world, where people would give somethin...