The Aztec civilization flourished in central Mexico between c. 1345 and 1521 CE, during which time they came to dominate Mesoamerica. The Aztecs developed a rich and complex iconography to represent their gods, ideas, and beliefs. Symbols were central to Aztec religious practices and rituals, while also representing broader concepts within their culture. Some of the most well-known Aztec symbols include the eagle, jaguar, serpent, cactus, and calendar stone.
The Eagle
The eagle was one of the most sacred animals to the Aztecs and a prominent symbol in their iconography. The eagle represents the sun god Huitzilopochtli, the patron deity of the Mexica tribe and leader of the Aztecs. According to Aztec mythology, Huitzilopochtli guided the Mexica from their mythical homeland of Aztlan to the Valley of Mexico, where they founded their capital of Tenochtitlan. The eagle was believed to be Huitzilopochtli’s spiritual embodiment and messenger.
Images of eagles adorned Aztec temples, sculptures, and jewelry as symbols of Huitzilopochtli. The Great Temple in Tenochtitlan was dedicated to this god and two large eagle sculptures adorned its sacred precinct. Each year during the festival of Panquetzaliztli, Aztec priests would sacrifice captured enemy warriors in honor of Huitzilopochtli by tearing out their still-beating hearts.
More generally, the eagle represented the sun, authority, bravery, and power within Aztec culture. It was considered one of the most sacred creatures due to its ability to soar high into the sky and get closer to Tonatiuh, the Aztec sun god. The eagle served as an embodiment of the Aztec rulers and warriors.
The Jaguar
Like the eagle, the jaguar was a revered animal in Aztec civilization. The jaguar frequently appears in Aztec art and architecture and is associated with Tezcatlipoca, the god of the night sky, magic, and rulership. Tezcatlipoca was the patron god of Aztec royalty and the jaguar was believed to be his earthly representative.
The jaguar was associated with warfare, power, strength, and valor. Aztec warriors and rulers would wear jaguar skins or helmets as a symbol of their ferocity in battle. When staged ritual battles were held during Aztec religious festivals, some warriors would dress in jaguar skins to represent the central Mexican god of war, Huitzilopochtli.
More generally, the jaguar symbolized the earthly forces of the night and its power allowed shamans to travel into the underworld. The black spots on the jaguar’s coat represented the stars in the night sky. For the Aztecs, the jaguar and eagle represented opposite but complimentary forces – the jaguar was lord of the earthly night while the eagle ruled the celestial day.
The Serpent
The rattlesnake in particular was one of the most potent creatures within Aztec culture and iconography. Its feared reputation and lethal potential made it an apt symbol for several Aztec gods. Most importantly, the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl was represented by the rattlesnake and the quetzal bird. Quetzalcoatl was the god of wind, the planet Venus, arts, and knowledge. He was also considered the patron god of priests and merchants.
Snakes featured heavily in Aztec art, architecture, and religious rituals. The famous Aztec calendar stone depicts two fire serpents which symbolize the celestial forces that destroy and recreate the world in cycles of 52 years. Serpents were also believed to serve as guardians and were carved on temples, homes, and walkways.
The shedding of the snake’s skin made it a symbol of rebirth and renewal. Snakes were worshipped by Aztec women who desired children and midwives during childbirth. More generally, the snake symbolized both life and death for the Aztecs as it could take life with its venom or shed its skin to emerge anew.
The Cactus
Cacti were prevalent across the arid central Mexican landscape inhabited by the Aztecs. The nopal cactus in particular held special significance within Aztec iconography. According to legend, the Aztecs’ ancestors, the Mexica, found an eagle perched on a nopal cactus devouring a snake upon their arrival in the Valley of Mexico. This fulfilled a prophecy about where the Mexica should build their capital city of Tenochtitlan.
The nopal cactus came to represent the Aztec’s mythical origins and ties to the land. It features prominently on the Aztec calendar stone, which depicts the founding of Tenochtitlan. More generally, the cactus symbolized the sustenance and life provided by the land. It was an important food source and its ability to thrive in harsh conditions made it a sacred plant. The nopal’s sprouting fruit were likened to bleeding human hearts during religious sacrifices.
Calendar Stone
One of the most iconic surviving Aztec monuments is the massive calendar stone discovered in the main square of Mexico City. The calendar stone integrates several key symbols from the Aztec belief system. At its center is the date 4 Ollin (‘movement’), which represents the completion of a major 52 year cyclical period in the Aztec calendar. Circling the central face are symbols representing the Aztec gods and cosmos:
- Two fire serpents with their heads pointing up and down, symbolizing the celestial forces that periodically destroy and recreate the world
- Faces depicting the gods of the four previous ‘suns’ or periods of creation according to Aztec myth
- The four cardinal and intercardinal directions each represented by specific glyphs
- Xiuhcoatl – the fire serpent, representing comets and the dry season
- Cipactli – representing the earth or terrestrial zone
- Tlaltecuhtli – the earth god in the form of a female monster
- Images of blood, representing sacrifice and the need to nourish the gods through offerings
The complex interlocking imagery created a symbolic microcosm of the Aztec cosmic order circling around the crucial calendar date at the center. The calendar stone was likely was used by Aztec priests for rituals, education, and prophecy. More broadly it reflects how Aztec symbols wove together calendar dates, mythic events, gods, and natural forces.
Conclusion
The Aztecs used complex symbolic iconography to represent their gods, natural forces, and cosmic order. Key creatures such as the eagle, jaguar, and serpent bore sacred meanings tied to Aztec religion and society. Important symbols like the nopal cactus and calendar stone reflected mythical origins, prophecies, and the Aztec worldview. Aztec symbols served ceremonial purposes but also reinforced broader concepts of power, warfare, fertility, creation, and renewal within their culture.
The enduring survival and reproduction of these symbols today speak to the immense sophistication of Aztec visual culture. Their iconography integrated multiple layers of religious, natural, and social meaning in aesthetic forms that could convey complex ideas. The Aztec empire collapsed following the Spanish conquest, but its symbolic legacy continues to intrigue and inspire reverence for the might and artistic skills of Mexico’s pre-Columbian civilizations.