An altar to feed the gods
Human sacrifice and the Tzompantli played an important place in the Mesoamerican culture Since many of the cultures of the region such as the Maya and Mexica, considered it as the only way to feed the gods and with it, prevent them from ending the world as they knew it for anger. Subsequently, this altar became one of the most standardized and celebrated practices because it served as an offering to the gods.
In the old one Tenochtitlanthe Tzontli were mounted on a large shelf in front of the Temple Mayor, which, inside it yields honors to Huitzilopochtli, god of war and Tláloc, god of rain, but everything changed with the arrival of Hernán Cortés.
The Spanish's reaction to the Tzompantli
When the Spanish conquerors reached Tenochtitlán In 1519, many Aztec traditions were eliminated and buried and Tzompantli They were one of the first since the contemplation of human sacrifice and these offerings to the gods horrified the foreigners. This motivated the Spaniards to tear down the Temple Mayor and also the Tzompantli, especially the greatest ones in front of the temple.