I think I would make a disservice to history by trying to summarize it, so I just bluntly copied from this link:
"Based on these codices as well as other histories, it appears that the Mexicas arrived at Chapultepec in or around the year 1248.
At the time of their arrival, the Valley of Mexico contained many city-states, the most powerful of which were Culhuacan to the south, and Azcapotzalco to the west. The Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco soon expelled the Mexicas from Chapultepec. In 1299, Culhuacan ruler Cocoxtli gave them permission to settle in the empty barrens of Tizapan, where they were eventually assimilated into Culhuacan culture.
In 1323, the Mexica asked the new ruler of Culhuacan, Achicometl, for his daughter, in order to make her the goddess Yaocihuatl. Unbeknownst to the king, the Mexicas actually planned to sacrifice her. As the story goes, during a festival dinner, a priest came out wearing her flayed skin as part of the ritual. Upon seeing this, the king and the people of Culhuacan were horrified and expelled the Mexicas.
According to Aztec legend, the Aztecs were shown a vision of an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, clutching a snake in its talons. This vision indicated that this was the location where they were to build their home. In any event, the Aztecs eventually arrived on a small swampy island in Lake Texcoco where they founded the town of Tenochtitlan in 1325. In 1376, the Mexicas elected their first Huey Tlatoani, Acamapichtli, who was living in Texcoco at the time."
Note to extend this: The Mexicas were basically banished to the worse place possible, which lacked food, was full of venomous snakes and they were exposed to attacks in a mud-like barren land.
In fact, the snake has a direct relationship to the harsh realities of their banishment (basically venomous snakes) and how they conquered over that land (Tenochtiltlan, the Venice of America).
I’m gonna go ahead and side with the ones who aren’t flaying people and wearing their skins…
Can you imagine seeing some dude wearing your daughter’s skin like that? After you willingly gave her to them because they said they were gonna deify her?
Fuck that noise. It’s the makings of a real life horror movie.
The Aztec empire was a bit of a triumvirate, but the Mexicas were the leading party for most of it, and like the Romans, their conquer and tax approach, mixed with their brutality were hated across the region.
In fact, albeit their fall was fueled by the diseases brought by the Spanish, the brunt of the war was done by subjugated states.
I always thought that Aztec history and the building of Tenochtitlan would be a great HBO show, rival to Rome or GOT.
Plus their origin and how they decided to flay their host’s daughter has always made the Mexicas/Aztecs my favorite evil empire.
How did they decide to flay?
I think I would make a disservice to history by trying to summarize it, so I just bluntly copied from this link: "Based on these codices as well as other histories, it appears that the Mexicas arrived at Chapultepec in or around the year 1248.
At the time of their arrival, the Valley of Mexico contained many city-states, the most powerful of which were Culhuacan to the south, and Azcapotzalco to the west. The Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco soon expelled the Mexicas from Chapultepec. In 1299, Culhuacan ruler Cocoxtli gave them permission to settle in the empty barrens of Tizapan, where they were eventually assimilated into Culhuacan culture.
In 1323, the Mexica asked the new ruler of Culhuacan, Achicometl, for his daughter, in order to make her the goddess Yaocihuatl. Unbeknownst to the king, the Mexicas actually planned to sacrifice her. As the story goes, during a festival dinner, a priest came out wearing her flayed skin as part of the ritual. Upon seeing this, the king and the people of Culhuacan were horrified and expelled the Mexicas.
According to Aztec legend, the Aztecs were shown a vision of an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, clutching a snake in its talons. This vision indicated that this was the location where they were to build their home. In any event, the Aztecs eventually arrived on a small swampy island in Lake Texcoco where they founded the town of Tenochtitlan in 1325. In 1376, the Mexicas elected their first Huey Tlatoani, Acamapichtli, who was living in Texcoco at the time."
Note to extend this: The Mexicas were basically banished to the worse place possible, which lacked food, was full of venomous snakes and they were exposed to attacks in a mud-like barren land.
In fact, the snake has a direct relationship to the harsh realities of their banishment (basically venomous snakes) and how they conquered over that land (Tenochtiltlan, the Venice of America).
That’s disgusting.
“We can say that was bit of a cultural faux pas. Take note IztaXochitl, from now onwards when we will flay someone, we should ask in advance.”
I’m gonna go ahead and side with the ones who aren’t flaying people and wearing their skins…
Can you imagine seeing some dude wearing your daughter’s skin like that? After you willingly gave her to them because they said they were gonna deify her?
Fuck that noise. It’s the makings of a real life horror movie.
Kafka meets Lovecraft…
The Aztec empire was a bit of a triumvirate, but the Mexicas were the leading party for most of it, and like the Romans, their conquer and tax approach, mixed with their brutality were hated across the region.
In fact, albeit their fall was fueled by the diseases brought by the Spanish, the brunt of the war was done by subjugated states.
I always thought that Aztec history and the building of Tenochtitlan would be a great HBO show, rival to Rome or GOT.
By flaying. It was a radical new idea at the time.