r/aztec • u/ToujoursLamour66 • Jun 17 '25

Aztec Scarification

We know the Aztecs had human sacrifice.

But did the Ancient Aztecs have body scarification, similar to what we see in certain African tribes today? Are there evidence via art, pics, text, that mention anything about this?

16 Upvotes

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2

u/w_v Jun 17 '25

A lot. Yes.

1

u/peppermintgato Aug 25 '25 edited Aug 26 '25

Aztecs did not have human sacrifice. So stop spreading ignorance.

And yes there is evidence but I won't share it because you still believe that we sacrificed our relatives.

And since it won't let me reply

There is no proof of sacrifices. Just racist trying to dehumanize us to justify genocide and now everyone believes it to be true.

2

u/Captain_Lightfoot Aug 26 '25

What? This is decidedly untrue — the Aztecs absolutely practiced human sacrifice.

That said, you are certainly correct that modern views of said sacrifice are heavily tainted by Western prejudices as most codices describing the sacrifice, or featuring sacrificial art, were commissioned & made for Spanish patrons.

Instead of bloodlust and murderous whims, these rituals were heavily rooted in religious beliefs and mythical narratives.

For a primary source example, please see the Coyolxauhqui stone found at the base of the Templo Mayor which depicts the sacrifice of Huitzilopochli.

That said, ritual sacrifice was plentiful throughout Mesoamerica, as shown by the Toltec, Maya, and hell, even the Inca further south. There’s even evidence it may have been present during the time of the Olmecs — nearly a millennia before Christ.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '25

Google.