It is not true, not true,
that we come to this earth to live.
We come only to sleep, only to dream.
Our body is a flower.
As grass becomes green in the springtime, so our hearts will open
and give forth buds and then they wither.
----Aztec poem
AZTEC FAMILY AND SOCIETY
Domestic life was
regulated and consistent.
Everyone knew their
obligations.
Tears add drama to requests
Aztec cherished their children and celebrated
any birth for four days according to family
wealth. Gifts given and received.
 Naming ceremony (very important to have an
auspicious name)
 Baptismal ceremony
 Cleansing


Aztecs equated giving birth as equivalent to a
warrior in battle. The soul of the child was sent
to earth and the woman had to struggle and
fight to bring him into the world of people.

Community involved in raising a child but
parents were expected to be responsible.
SOCIAL BEHAVIORS
Women of Tenochiltlan were less prone to wear
make up and tattoos as in the outer districts.
Heavy make-up and loose hair was associated
with prostitutes.
“Do not wear red on your lips. If you want your husband
to love you dress well and wash your clothes.”
--- from the Codex Borbonicus
Cuicacalli: school for song and dance.
 Calmecac: school for boys—dreams and omens,
glyphs, and military arts (elites only).
 Auianime: courtesans who attended to warriors
“needs.”
 Telpochaalli: school for young men
(commoners) law, history, religion, and proper
behavior.

Parents drop off
their children at
school.
Preparing the sweat bath.
Aztec woman of high rank.
SIN

Moral behavior was expected as well as
obedience to the law.
Tlazoltcotl was the god of Filth. Both inspired
and absolved sin.
 Confession to priests of sins in the name of
Tlazolcotl could absolve any crime—if you had
not been caught--once in your lifetime (so plan
ahead).

Tlazoltcotl
“loose haired” prostitutes.
IF IT SEEMS THERE WERE A LOT OF GODS…
You are correct.
 In part the problem stems from Aztec respect
for and incorporation of the Gods of their
conquered enemies and conquests.
 Even Aztec priests had a tough time keeping
track.

Getting ears
pierced at the
mall.
A FEW MISCELANEOUS FACTS.




Population density of
Tenochitlan greater than
modern Manhattan.
Men not allowed to marry
until 20 years of age, girls at
14. Marriages arranged.
Turquois symbolized water
and sky. Second only to jade
in preciousness.
Only nobles could wear
cotton garments.




Although burials took place,
most preferred to be
cremated.
Iguanas were considered a
delicious addition to dinner.
A kind of hairless, barkless
dog was a favorite for special
feasts.
Judges could be put to death
for taking bribes.
Deconstructing the myth of Malinche
THE LEGEND OF DONA MARINA
It is time to take a critical look at a myth.
Treason and betrayal of a people?
Cortez condemns Moctzuma II to death.
BACKGROUND
Born of noble birth, sold into slavery in act of
betrayal by her mother.
 “Rescued from servitude” by the good Christian
Hernan Cortez.
 Served at his side as translator.
 Given the title Dona Marina.
 Disappears from history in 1531 (probably a
victim of smallpox, but perhaps some other
reason).

ACCORDING TO BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO



Skilled linguist
Spoke Mayan dialects of
Tobasco, Nahualtl, and
achieved fluency in
Spanish.
Shrewd and capable
aid.


“Born a Princess and
looked like one,” “noble
bearing.”
Recognized as having
standing—Cortez used
her as an emissary and
guide to social cues and
behaviors of noble class.
Contemporary accounts hold her in favorable
light for her accomplishments.
 But over time she came to stand for all things
treasonous, for betrayal and treachery.


The truth is, the Aztec fell to armies of many
enemies allied to the Spaniards with their own
agendas.
Did she betray her people?
 Or, is she victim twice, once by her tribe and
now by modern society looking for a scape goat
for the conquest?


According to this is a Euro-myth of just
conquest.
A PATTERN OF EUROPEAN MYTH
MANUFACTURE?
Women portrayed as aids and betrayers
working with Christian conquerors.
 European conqueror is seen as more virile and
acceptable compared to native peoples.
 Europeans viewed as Gods by native peoples
awed by strangeness and technology.

EXAMPLES OF REPEATED HISTORICAL THEME


Columbus
Hernan Cortez

Captain John Smith

As a God
A God…Princess Dona
Marina
“Princess” Pocahontas

Lewis and Clark

Sacagawea

Captain Cook

A God, Hawaiian Princess


One of the latest manifestation of
nobility.
The image of a noble Aztec and
maiden in distress is a common
theme on tattoos, not just on
black velvet.
Note that both individuals have
strikingly European
appearance.
What are the subliminal
messages this conveys to the
viewer?
Don Francisco de Arobe. Appointed as Governor of Esmeralda (Ecuador)
by the King of Spain. Portrayed here with his sons.
One of the many side stories of the conquest of South America.
African slave accompanied Pizarro in conquest of Inca.