- Sputnik International
Multimedia
When a picture is worth a thousand words. See what's happening in the world from a more visual perspective with Sputnik's photo galleries, infographics and other multimedia content.

Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation

Subscribe
Bloodthirsty barbarians or geniuses of agriculture and astronomy? No matter how you look at it, Aztecs and their culture are undoubtedly captivating and thrilling even to this day, almost 500 years after their decline.

The Aztecs were a Nahuatl-speaking civilisation inhabiting central and southern parts of what nowadays is Mexico. Their civilisation reached its prime in the 14-16th centuries before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors that incorporated once vibrant society into the Spanish Empire.

The Aztecs are famous for their outstanding system of agriculture and irrigation that contributed to their development and might.

They are also notorious for their shocking and gory rituals that include human sacrifice - including heart-extraction.

Make sure not to miss Sputnik's photo gallery showing the cultural heritage of the Aztec Empire in all its glory.

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wolfgang Sauber / Mexico City. Palacio Nacional. Mural by Diego Rivera showing life in Aztec times e.g. religious life in Tenochtitlan.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
1/17
Mexico City. Palacio Nacional. Mural by Diego Rivera showing life in Aztec times e.g. religious life in Tenochtitlan.
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Hans Hillewaert / Xiuhtecuhtli (cropped photo)Turquoise mosaic mask of Xiuhtecuhtli, the god of fire. Aztec or Mixtec (AD 1400-1521), in the British Museum.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
2/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata / Esculturas en el Templo Mayor (cropped photo)Sculptures in the Templo Mayor, the historical centre of Mexico City
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
3/17
Sculptures in the Templo Mayor, the historical centre of Mexico City
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Joe Ravi / Tlatelolco Marketplace as depicted at Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. The largest Aztec market was located in Tenochtitlan's neighbouring town, Tlatelolco.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
4/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
© AFP 2023 / Alfredo EstrellaTwo skulls from the Azteca culture are seen during a tour for the media of the "El Colorido de la Gran Tenochtitlan" exhibit at the Templo Mayor Museum in Mexico City on May 18, 2017.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
5/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
© Photo : Public domainHuman sacrifice as shown in the Codex Magliabechiano.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
6/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wolfgang Sauber / National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Reconstruction of the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
7/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
8/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Luidger / Tenochtitlan ModellModel of Tenochtitlan
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
9/17
Model of Tenochtitlan
10/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ulises.rubin / Templo MayorModern-day descendant of the Aztecs
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
11/17
Modern-day descendant of the Aztecs
12/17
An Aztec mask decorated with turquoise mosaic, 1400-1521
© Photo : Public domain Page 12 of the Codex Borbonicus, (in the big square): Tezcatlipoca (night and fate) and Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent); before 1500; bast fibre paper; height: 38 cm, length of the full manuscript.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
13/17
Page 12 of the Codex Borbonicus, (in the big square): Tezcatlipoca (night and fate) and Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent); before 1500; bast fibre paper; height: 38 cm, length of the full manuscript.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Geni / Photo of an aztec double headed serpent turquoise chest ornamentPhoto of an Aztec double-headed serpent, turquoise chest ornament.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
14/17
Photo of an Aztec double-headed serpent, turquoise chest ornament.
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Mariana277 / Tenochtitlán em seu esplendorAn artist's impression of Tenochtitlán
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
15/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
CC BY 3.0 / Anagoria / Mictlantecuhtli; aztec God of the Dead, found in Teotihuacan; shown at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico CityMictlantecuhtli; Aztec God of the Dead, found in Teotihuacan; shown at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
16/17
Mictlantecuhtli; Aztec God of the Dead, found in Teotihuacan; shown at the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.
© AFP 2023 / Alfredo EstrellaA piece is seen during a tour for the media of the "El Colorido de la Gran Tenochtitlan" exhibit at the Templo Mayor Museum in Mexico City on May 18, 2017.
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation - Sputnik International
17/17
Remnants of Former Glory: A Look Back at Enigmatic Aztec Civilisation
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала