Human Sacrifices in Mexico

Feasts and the distribution of goods generally would accompany human sacrifices conducted by other groups in Mexican society as well, ranging from the tlatoani (Mexica ruler) himself to warriors, pochteca, and craftsmen. Feasting served to revive ties within the community and between the community and the gods. The menu always was ritually determined: depending on the occasion, guests would dine on the flesh of the gods in the form of human sacrifices, effigies made of amaranth seeds, or first fruits, which were believed to contain the spirit of the deity.

One of the most important rituals was the "New Fire" ceremony held at the close of the calendar cycle every 52 years. The Mexica believed that unless the ceremony was held the sun would lose its strength and fail to emerge from the world beyond. All fires were extinguished and all cooking vessels smashed. At the close of the ceremony a new fire was lit in the chest cavity of a sacrificial victim, heralding the survival of the world. The ceremony took place on the Hill of the Star east of Tenochtitlan and was attended by priests dressed in the regalia of several gods. It was hoped that the ceremony would fix the Pleiades in the heavens in order to reignite and distribute the new fire throughout the kingdom.

The tlatoani used public ritual to reinforce his power over the Mexica and subject peoples. Although such ceremonies as the dedication of new temples and religious monuments or the anointing of the tlatoani were ostensibly dedicated to one of the gods, they also celebrated the strength of a victorious people. Indeed, the anointing of a new ruler could not take place until he had demonstrated his valor in battle and sacrificed captives to Huitzilopochtli. Part of the pact between the Mexica and Huitzilopochtli established during the people's long journey from Aztlan to Tenochtitlan called for human sacrifice and the construction of temples. However, the tlatoani's responsibilities went beyond fulfilling the pact with Huitzilopochtli. He supervised the rituals that ensured that the sun would continue to shine, the maize to grow, and the Mexica people to fulfill the destiny assigned to them by the gods.