Aztec Gold

In the Aztec Empire, gold was not merely a material of opulence but a sacred element intertwined with culture, religion, and identity. The story of Aztec gold is one of artistic achievement, cultural significance, and devastating conquest, making it a topic of fascination for historians, archaeologists, and adventurers alike.

In addition to the facts that we know about Aztec gold and its role in Aztec society, there are also a fascinating collection of myths and legends where Aztec gold plays the leading role.

Gold in Aztec Society

For the Aztecs, gold was deeply significant, representing divine favour and the power of the gods. Unlike European societies of the time, which often used gold as currency, the Aztecs saw it as a sacred material rather than a medium for trade. They called gold teocuitlatl, meaning “the excrement of the gods,” reflecting its spiritual importance.

Gold was closely tied to religious practices, used in crafting ceremonial masks, jewellery, and ornaments dedicated to their deities. It adorned the temples and was reserved for the elite, including emperors and priests, as a mark of their divine authority. The Aztecs also showcased extraordinary craftsmanship in their use of gold, combining it with materials like jade and turquoise to create intricate works of art.

Despite its abundance and importance, gold was never a part of the Aztec trading system, which relied on goods such as cacao beans for commerce. Gold was instead a material of reverence, enhancing its symbolic value.

Xīpe Totēc – God of the Goldsmiths

In Aztec culture, Xīpe Totēc was a life-death-rebirth deity, associated with the earth, agriculture, the spring season, the east, and deadly warefare. He was the god of goldsmiths and silversmiths, and sometimes also honoured as god of all metallurgy.

Xīpe Totēc is depicted wearing a pointed cap and holding a rattle staff – items the Mexica emperor would also put on during times of war.

Yopico

Yopico was a temple built for Xīpe Totēc within the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan.

Tlacaxipehualiztli

Tlacaxipehualiztli, the annual festival of Xīpe Totēc, was celebrated on the spring equinox, before the start of the rainy season. The festival lasted for 20 days.

Examples of details from the festival:

• Forty days before the celebration, captured slaves would be selected and dressed to represent Xīpe Totēc.
• The festival both began and culminated with gladiatorial sacrifices of war prisoners.
• Two teams played a game of canes against each other. One team would dress in the skins of sacrificed war prisoners, representing Xīpe Totēc. The other team would consist of soldiers. After the game, the men dressed in human skins would wander around town, demanding gifts for the love of Xīpe Totēc, and blessing those who complied.
• As a part of the festival, the goldsmiths held their own special celebration in the Yopico temple. Skin was taken from captives and used to adorn a selected person, who would represent Xīpe Totēc, and wear a crown and skirt made from feathers, a wig of false hair, and red sandals decorated with feathers. Unsurprisingly, gold was an important part of the ritual. The person representing Xīpe Totēc wore a wide gold necklace, and the nose, including the nasal septum, was adorned with gold ornaments. The person would hold rattles in the right hand and a gold shield in the left.
• Due to urban sprawl, modern-day Azcapotzalco is a borough in Mexico City, but in the time of the Aztec Empire, it was a separate town, where metalworkers, including goldsmiths, were known to celebrate Xīpe Totēc with fervour. Just as in Tenochtitlan, the celebrations included human sacrifice, and thieves that had stolen gold or silver were especially likely to be sacrificed to Xīpe Totēc. Before the killing of gold and silver thieves, they were paraded through the streets to serve as warning to others.

Disease

Offerings were given to Xīpe Totēc to cure skin diseases such as blisters, acne and poxes.

Range

The origins of the Xīpe Totēc cult are unknown, but we do know that it was a widespread practise in the region at the time of the Spanish Conquest, and Xīpe Totēc was known throughout most of Mesoamerica. Representations of this god have been found far away from Tenochtitlan, e.g. in Tazumal in modern-day El Salvador. In the late 2010s, researchers from Mexico´s National Institute of Anthropology and History announced that they had discovered a temple dedicated to Xīpe Totēc in the state of Puebla. The temple was built by the Popolucas in Ndachjian-Tehuacan between AD 1000 and 1260, which was before the Aztec invasion of the area, showing that the god was known and worshipped here even before the area fell under Aztec control.

The Spanish Conquest and the Fall of the Aztec Empire (The Triple Alliance)

The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century marked a turning point in the history of Aztec gold. Led by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish forces landed in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán in 1519, where they were met by Emperor Montezuma II.

Initially, Montezuma welcomed the Spanish, offering gifts of gold as a gesture of goodwill. However, these gifts had the opposite effect, igniting the greed of the conquistadors. To the Spanish, gold represented wealth and power, and its abundance in the Aztec Empire became a driving force behind their campaign of conquest.

When Tenochtitlán fell in 1521, the Spanish looted massive amounts of gold from the Aztec Empire. Much of it was melted down into ingots and transported to Spain, where it enriched the Spanish Crown and fuelled Europe’s economy. This looting destroyed a lot of the Aztec cultural and artistic heritage, as countless works of gold were lost forever.

The Legend of Lost Aztec Gold

After the Spanish conquest, legends of lost Aztec gold began to circulate. Many legends claim that he Aztecs, anticipating new attacks from the Spanish, hid vast amounts of treasure to prevent it from being stolen. Tales of buried hoards and secret caches of gold have fuelled centuries of speculation and treasure hunts, particularly in Mexico and the southwestern United States.

One of the most enduring myths is the story of Montezuma’s hidden treasure, said to have been concealed in a remote location to keep it out of Spanish hands.

Despite numerous expeditions, no conclusive evidence of large hidden Aztec treasure troves has been found, leaving the mystery of lost Aztec gold unsolved and continuing to captivate imaginations.

Aztec Gold’s Enduring Legacy

While much of the physical gold of the Aztec Empire was destroyed or taken, its legacy endures. Today, the story of Aztec gold serves as a reminder of the cultural and material richness of the Aztec civilization, as well as the devastating impact of colonization.

Rare surviving artifacts crafted from Aztec gold occasionally surface in archaeological discoveries, offering glimpses into the artistry and craftsmanship of this advanced society. These pieces stand as testaments to the Aztecs’ deep connection to gold and their skill in working with the precious metal.

Modern Fascination with Aztec Gold

The allure of Aztec gold remains strong in modern culture, often depicted as the ultimate treasure in films, books, and video games. Its symbolism extends beyond material wealth, evoking themes of adventure, mystery, and the quest for knowledge about ancient civilizations.

For historians and archaeologists, Aztec gold represents more than just the lost treasures of a bygone empire. It embodies the ingenuity and spiritual values of the Aztec people, as well as the dramatic shifts that occurred during the Spanish conquest.

Final Thoughts

Aztec gold is a timeless symbol of cultural heritage, spirituality, and historical intrigue. Its role in Aztec society went far beyond wealth, reflecting the civilization’s religious devotion and artistic brilliance. Though much of it was lost during the Spanish conquest, the story of Aztec gold continues to inspire curiosity and admiration.

As both a link to a rich cultural past and a reminder of the impact of colonization, Aztec gold remains a subject of fascination, bridging the worlds of history, mythology, and modern exploration. Its legacy endures, shining brightly through the myths, artifacts, and stories that keep the spirit of the Aztec civilization alive.