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Aztec Art
Pictures
Aztec Art
• Aztec Art shows
religion,culture,gods and beliefs and
daily life.
Here are some pictures of Aztec
Art
The Double Headed Serpent
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An icon of Aztec art, this striking
object was probably worn on
ceremonial occasions an ornament
worn on the chest.
It is carved in wood and covered with
turquoise mosaic. The wood is
hollowed at the back.
The serpent is associated with
several gods deities including
Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent),
Xiuhcoatl (Fire Serpent) and
Mixcoatl (Cloud Serpent) or
Coatlicue (She of the Serpent
Skirt), the mother of the Aztec god
Huitzilopochtli. The habit of snakes
to shed their skin each year
probably led to them being used to
convey ideas concerning renewal
and transformation.
Likewise the ability of many species to
move freely between water, earth and
the forest canopy helped underline
their symbolic role as intermediaries
between the different layers of the
cosmos (underworld, earth and sky).
Spondylus (thorny oyster) shell was
used for the bright red details around
the nose and mouth of both of the
serpants heads. Strombus (conch)
shell was used for the white teeth.
The Temple
• Often a whole area of a city
would be dedicated to
religious activities. Some
monuments would be made to
specific gods. Some were
built for specific celebrations.
The buildings you probably
associate with the Aztec
religion are the great
pyramids. These were four
sided, stable structures that
can withstand the
earthquakes that are common
in the area. These would
have stairs up one side and a
flat top.
The Aztec Pots
• The Aztec pots were
always made by hand
some are more special
than others as they are
dedicated to different
gods as the gods are
carved into the side of it.
You would probably see
these on the market they
would hold food drink
and sometimes jewellery.
Golden Statues
• The Aztecs had a lot of
gold and made all most
anything with it.
• Many statues were of
gods that were
worshipped.
• Crafts man often used
gold to make jewellery
and sometimes they even
put it in to the emperors,
priests and nobles
headdress.