Aztec Sacrifices Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sun

Nanauatzin and Tecuciztecatl both sacrificed themselves and everything they had to create the sun and the moon. It was Nanauatzin that jumped into the great bonfire first, thus becoming the sun. It was his and Tecuciztecatl's self-sacrifice, along with blood from the other gods, that laid the foundation for the belief that the gods demanded blood as repayment for the creation of the Fifth Sun.

Answer: Huitzilopochtli

According to the story, Huitzilopochtli's mother, Coatlique, was sweeping at a temple one day when she became pregnant with Huitzilopochtli after a ball of feathers fell from the sky. Her other children, the Centzon Huiztnaua led by her daughter Coyolxauhqui, found out about her pregnancy and were on the way to kill her. Huitzilopochtli was born in full armor and killed his sister, sending her dismembered body down the hill.

He also defeated the Centzon Huiztnaua (the stars) and spread them in all directions. Once the Aztecs built the Great Pyramid named Coatepetl in honor of the mountain on which his battle took place, they included a sculpture of Coyolxauhqui's dismembered body at the bottom of the pyramid to symbolize her defeat.

Answer: Yes

The highest heaven was reserved for those warriors who died in battle. Sacrifice victims were also worthy of entering this heaven since their blood kept the gods happy. This was even extended to those victims who were enemies that had been sacrificed.

Answer: People with handicaps

The Aztecs believed that the souls of cripples, especially hunchbacks, could help the sun warriors to protect the sun from the monster that was attacking it. This always worked and the eclipse would end. Because of this, people who were crippled were treated well during their lifetime.

Answer: Flower wars

"Flower war" is the English translation of 'Xochiyaoyotol', the name given to this type of warfare. Since sacrifices were needed to keep the gods sated and to keep from offending them, cities and villages needed a constant supply of prisoners. 'Xochiyaoyotol' was the solution to the problem of not having a steady supply of prisoners of war during times of peace.

These prisoners were especially useful for sacrifices to the sun.

Answer: Tlaloc

Tlaloc was the god of rain. It was believed that the tears of the children would ensure that Tlaloc provided plenty of rain. After the priests paraded the children around town making them cry, they were sacrificed. Not all children were eligible to be sacrificed to Tlaloc--only those born with a double cowlick.

The priests would pick the children soon after birth, and once the children were taken away from their parents, they were kept in a separate house until they reached the age of about five or six years old.

Answer: All of these

While human sacrifices were some of the most important, the Aztecs would also offer up non-human sacrifices and offerings. They would also sacrifice animals, such as the quail, by beheading them. Offerings of flowers, food, and other items were also involved in the ritual preparation for religious celebrations.

Answer: Pulque

Pulque was given to those who were to die on the sacrificial stone as well as to the gladiators who were to fight the Aztec warriors. Pulque was also given to infants when they were introduced into the Aztec ceremonial life.

Pulque is an alcoholic beverage and is made from the maguey plant after the plant has matured for about eight to ten years. It is still drunk in Mesoamerica and is sometimes mixed with fruit juice.

Answer: Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl was the god of wisdom. He was usually associated with being opposed to human sacrifice, though he did advocate self-sacrifice and the sacrifice of animals. He was also the creator of humanity under the Fifth Sun since he was the one who stole the bones from the Underworld to form the new humans.

Answer: The prisoner would be tied to a stone and given inferior weapons.

Gladiator-style combat was used to give courageous prisoners a chance to escape their fate as a sacrifice and to gain their freedom. These warriors would fight seven Aztec warriors, one at a time, while being tethered to a stone pedestal. Also, their weapons would not be of the same quality as those of the Aztec warriors. If a warrior were to still prove to be a challenge for the Aztec warriors, he would often be pitted against a left-handed warrior to confuse him.