The Aztec Tower of Skulls: A Grisly Monument to Ritual Sacrifice
Discovery of the Huey Tzompantli
In 2015, archaeologists excavating in Mexico City stumbled upon a macabre discovery: a section of a tower constructed entirely out of human skulls. This structure, known as the Huey Tzompantli, is believed to be one of seven such towers that once stood in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán.
The Huey Tzompantli was first discovered near the ruins of the Templo Mayor, a religious center dedicated to the war god Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc. The tower is cylindrical in shape and measures approximately 16.4 feet in diameter. It was built in three stages, likely dating to the time of the Tlatoani Ahuízotl government, between 1486 and 1502.
The Victims of the Huey Tzompantli
The skulls in the Huey Tzompantli belonged to people who were sacrificed during the reign of Ahuízotl, the eighth king of the Aztecs. Archaeologists initially believed that the skulls belonged only to defeated male warriors, but recent analysis suggests that some belonged to women and children as well.
The victims were likely captives who were destined for sacrificial ceremonies. Archaeologists have identified the remains of at least three children in the tower, based on the size and development of their teeth.
The Ritual Significance of the Huey Tzompantli
To the Aztecs, ritual sacrifice was a means of keeping the gods alive and preventing the destruction of the universe. The Huey Tzompantli was a physical manifestation of this belief.
The skulls in the tower were displayed in a large inner circle that raised and widened in a succession of rings. This arrangement was believed to represent the cyclical nature of life and death.
Destruction and Rediscovery of the Huey Tzompantli
The Huey Tzompantli was destroyed by Spanish conquistadors and their Indigenous allies in the 1500s. The towers were dismantled and their fragments scattered across the area.
The Huey Tzompantli was rediscovered in 2015 during the restoration of a building constructed on the site of the Aztec capital. The tower is now a protected archaeological site and a popular tourist destination.
The Legacy of the Huey Tzompantli
The Huey Tzompantli is a powerful reminder of the Aztec civilization and its complex belief system. The tower is a testament to the Aztecs’ skill as builders and their unwavering faith in their gods.
The Huey Tzompantli is also a reminder of the darker side of Aztec culture. The tower is a symbol of the violence and human sacrifice that were an integral part of Aztec society.
Spanish Accounts of the Huey Tzompantli
Spanish conquistadors Hernán Cortés, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, and Andrés de Tapia described the Aztecs’ skull racks in their writings about the conquest of the region. De Tapia said that the Aztecs placed tens of thousands of skulls “on a very large theater made of lime and stone, and on the steps of it were many heads of the dead stuck in the lime with the teeth facing outward.”
Archaeological Significance of the Huey Tzompantli
The Huey Tzompantli is one of the most important archaeological finds in Mexico in recent years. The tower provides valuable insights into Aztec culture and society. It is also a reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of human history.