The Aztec civilization is perhaps the most
celebrated of the ancient Mesoamerican
cultures. Their empire stretched throughout
northern Mexico and was surpassed in size
only by that of the Incans. Tenochtitlan
(modern-day Mexico City) was the center of
their religious and political systems. The city
was composed of a group of island located in
the center of Lake Texcoco, earning it the
nickname “Venice of the New World.” By the
time the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in the
early 16th Century, led by the infamous
Hernan Cortes, Tenochtitlan was by far larger
than any city they could have seen in Europe.
Today, the Aztec are remembered for their
grand temple complex ruins, for their intricate
calendar system, and for the few examples of
their art that survive today. Aztec art was
primarily ecclesiastical and is renowned for its
powerful nature. Highly adept at working with
stone, the Aztec artists created artworks that
were both grand in scale, as evidenced in their
temple architecture, and relatively small in
size. Like many cultures, the Aztecs believed
that many animals had supernatural symbolic
associations. Therefore, although the Aztec
gods were usually visualized in human form,
most gods also had animal aspects. Moreover,
it was believed that both men and gods could,
at certain times, actually change themselves
into powerful animals.
- (CK.0323)
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