Aztec Alphabet

ByCody Humbert

A Aztlan This map, dated 1847,  was the

map used to adjudicate the

conclusion of the Mexican American War. It shows the territories once owned by Mexico before being annexed to the United States. In one location there is a citation reading "Ancient home of the Aztecs." Could this the original site of Aztlán

BThe Aztec used this Armor to protect them during battles

Body Armor

CChac Mool was the god to whom the hearts of people who were sacrificed were given.

Chac Mool

Death WhistleArchaeologists

think the Aztecs played a strange sound from the “Death Whistles” before their victims were sacrificed to the gods. 

D

EThe Eagle Warriors were the scouts of the Aztec Warriors. They were also very good fighters.

Eagle Warrior

FGreen, white and red stripes..Mexican flag is full of national symbolism. The green strip represents the Independence Movement. The white stripe represents the purity of the Catholic faith. The red stripe represents the Spaniards that joined in the quest for Independence and the blood of the national heroes. The emblem-shield symbolizes the Aztec heritage.

Flag of Aztec

G

The Aztecs used glyphs to write the names of people and places.

Glyphs

The glyph for “snake” in the Aztec language of Nahuatl is coatl. The glyph for “place abundant with” is the same as the glyph for “teeth” , or tlan. Coatlan, from coatl + tlan, means "place abundant with snakes".

HHuitzliopochtli was theAztec sun and war god. He is often pictured as a hummingbird or an eagle.

Huitzlipotchli

I1428-1440Itzcoatl was the fourth ruler of the Aztecs. He defeated Tepanecs and formed the empire of the Triple Alliance, or the Aztec Empire. His name means “Obsidian Serpent.”

Itzcoatl

J Jade stone was used to make masks and figures of gods, people and animals.

Jade Mask

K Knights

Knights called the Ocelomeh, or jaguar knights, were the bravest of the Aztec warriors. They were warriors all their lives.

LThe Aztecs believed that Coatlicue created life. She decides when the sun will come up or not. .  She was scary to look at. She was the symbol of human life and nature. Coatlicue was the mother of Huitzliopochtli, the chief God of the Aztecs. Her name means “Lady of Skirt of Snakes.” 

“ Lady of Skirt of Snakes” - Coatlicue

Montezuma was emperor of the Aztecs when Cortes arrived.

Montezuma

M

NNahuatl was the language of the Aztecs. This poem is in the Nahuatl language. It is called “Dear Mother,” or “Madrecita.”

Nahuatl

O

Ocarina

An ocarina modeled after the ancient Chinese ocarinas. Made of clay, with 7 holes in front, 2 in back. Played with a flute embouchure (like blowing into a bottle). The Aztecs played music on the ocarina to make a flute sound.

PThe Pyramid of the sun is the largest pyramid at the Aztec city of Teotihuacan. It is the largest pyramid in the Western hemisphere.

Pyramid of the Sun

My grandma and my cousin at Teotihuacan.

QQuetzalcoatl was the god known as the “feathered serpent.” A legend says he left the Aztecs and promised to return. When Cortez arrived in Mexico, the Aztecs thought he was Quetzalcoatl.

Quetzalcoatl

R

Rain God “Tlaloc”“Tlaloc”

was the Aztec god of the rain and fertility.

S

The skull rack, or Tzompantli, was the place where the Aztecs put the heads of the people they sacrificed. The Conquistadores said there were about 60,000 skulls on the

Skull Rack

Main rack, and there were at least 5 smaller racks in Tenochtitlan.

TTenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec Empire. It was built on Lake Texcoco.

Tenochtitlan

UWhen the Aztecs were injured in battle, they would use fresh urine to wash the wound. They used many plants and animal parts for medicine.

Urine and other Medicines

V .

Vegetables and other Foods

Corn was the main food for the Aztecs. Other vegetables like tomatoes, chiles, beans, avocados, pumpkins, vanilla and even cactus leaves were eaten. If you ever ate tacos, enchiladas, tamales, tortillas, or quesadillas, or if you ever drank hot chocolate, you were eating the food of the Aztecs . They also ate dogs & birds. Mother and daughter making tortillas

WThe goal of Aztec war battles was to capture their enemies and make them into Aztecs so they could make their kingdom bigger.

War

XThe ancient canals of Xochimilco ("place of the flowers") and its "floating gardens" ("chinampas"), were where the Aztecs grew most of their food. Boats still travel on the canals.

Xochimilco

Y

The Aztec’s year is recorded on two calendars. The xiuhpohualli, has 365 days. It describes the days and rituals related to the time for planting and harvest, and is based on the sun. The other calendar has 260 days. It is called the tonalpohualli or, the day-count. It keeps track of the religious holidays and ceremonies. My cousin Tori in front of the Aztec

Calendar Stone ln Mexico City

Z

The zocalo was the large area of open space in the middle of the city of Tenochtitlan. It was the place where the market was held and where celebrations happened. The Zocalo is still used in Mexico City today.

Zocalo

CREDITS

Art and Script by Cody Humbert

and his Grandmother

Effects by Cody Humbert

Assistant Producer: Cody’s Mom

Music From: Mexicolore.co.uk

and ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org

Art and Script by Cody Humbert

and his Grandmother

Effects by Cody Humbert

Assistant Producer: Cody’s Mom

Music From: Mexicolore.co.uk

and ollinyoliztlicalmecac.org