The pigments used are typically vibrant colors rather than muted tones. The most popular color choices for Aztec tattoos are red, green and yellow. However, that’s not to say that colored tattoos of Aztec deities and motifs don’t exist: they do. They tend to be very intricate and detailed designs, and colorless tattoos allow those details to pop. Most Aztec tattoos are done in black and white. Tattoos of Tezcatlipoca represent strength and prowess. He is considered to be the most powerful of the Aztec gods and is also the god of night. Tezcatlipoca, or the god of warriors, is usually represented as a jaguar or a warrior with a quiver full of arrows on his back. This design is generally tattooed in a realistic style with black and white ink, and it tends to cover a large area because it’s so detailed. The calendar itself has two cycles: a 365-day yearly cycle, known as xiuhpōhualli, and a 260-day ritual cycle that’s known as tōnalpōhualli. It represents life, leadership, and strength. The Aztec calendar is an intricate design and a popular choice among those who admire the culture. They’re also shown holding shields and wielding traditional weapons, like bows, spears, and wooden swords called macuahuitl. Warriors are often depicted wearing helms resembling eagles and jaguars, two important animals in Aztec culture. In Aztec culture, the warrior represents a belief in the afterlife as well as competition, prowess, and an appreciation for mesoamerican culture. The Aztec warrior is an especially popular design among men. Tattoos of Quetzalcoatl tend to mean creativity, strength, and knowledge. Considered one of the most powerful deities in Aztec culture, he is the god of many things, including learning, art, dawn, and fertility. Quetzalcoatl is a god who takes the form of a massive feathered serpent. The crocodile is a popular choice of tattoo among men. Tattoos of the crocodile mean strength and the ability to solve problems. It’s actually a great, serpent-like creature whose body was used to create the earth in Aztec mythology. The crocodile represented in Aztec tattoos is not meant to be an actual crocodile. Huītzilōpōchtli is often represented as a hummingbird or a brave warrior wielding a serpent. Tattoos of this deity represent a belief in the afterlife because in Aztec culture, the rising and setting of the sun was said to be proof of a life after death. Huītzilōpōchtli is the Aztec god of the sun and the god of war. It’s also occasionally shown with a snake in its mouth, which is a nod to modern Mexican culture. The eagle is sometimes depicted as a warrior’s helm. Eagle tattoos were historically worn by Aztec warriors who were believed to derive their strength from these powerful birds. Tattoos of an eagle represent inner strength, bravery, and power. People from around the world love the style because of what the tattoos represent, and because the ancient artwork of the Aztec people is beautiful. Today, both descendants and admirers of mesoamerican culture pay tribute to the Aztecs in the form of tattoos. Their cities fell into ruins after the Spanish conquest led by Hernan Cortes, but elements of their culture persisted. The art on their bodies was also used to differentiate between tribes and display a warrior’s prowess.įrom 1200 AD to 1521 AD, the Aztec people built a sprawling empire that flourished in the valley of Mexico. Their tattoos were applied as a part of rituals, meant to honor a chosen god. History of the Aztec TattooĪztec tattoos were first worn by the ancient Aztec people who inhabited parts of Central America and Mexico. These designs each carry a wide variety of meanings, which tend to be a cross between Aztec symbolism and modern interpretations.
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