What Was An Aztec Confession?
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - The Aztec religion offered a formal confession in case of sin or some serious crimes. According to tradition, the Aztecs had the possibility to confess their sins.
Left: Huastec statue of Tlazoltéotl, Mexico, 900-1521, later assimilated to the Mexica pantheon. British museum - CC BY-SA 3.0; Right: Xochiquetzal, from the Codex Rios, 16th century. Pedro de los Rios (lived: 16th century) - The Codex Rios - Public Domain
Traditionally, according to Aztec laws, crimes were treated with severe treatments; however, there was a possibility to make a confession, which automatically provided the confessor with protection. Since people were only able to make one confession during their lifetime, usually this life event took place when people were very old or knew they were about to die.
The exact date for the confession had to be established by a priest, who consulted the tonalamatl, , the 260-day sacred calendar book and the ceremony of confession usually took place during the Festival of Ochpaniztli.
This festival was an important Aztec celebration, which honored the mother goddess and the maize goddess, and was conducted with the help of five priests dressed in paper ornaments and standing on the steps of a pyramid. These priests represented the four cardinal points and the center.
The confession could only take place in front of the goddess Tlazolteotl, one of the most important goddesses of the Aztec pantheon. She was the goddess of human fertility, sexuality, purification, steam bath, midwives, filth, and a patroness of adulterers.
Tlazolteotl played an significqant role in the confession of wrongdoing through her priests.
Another goddess who was authorized to accept the confession was Xochiquetzal, goddess associated with concepts of fertility, beauty, and female sexual power, serving as a protector of young mothers and a patron of pregnancy, childbirth.
The penitent had to confess its sins in the order he had committed them, then, he ceremonially burned incense using a copal tree, and performed an auto-sacrifice (or blood-letting) as ordered by a priest.
After confessing, the person – dressed only in a paper skirt decorated with designs related to goddess Tlazolteotl - had to fast, and then go at night to one of the shrines built for women who died during childbirth. He had to leave its skirt behind, at the shrine - a symbol that they had left behind their sins.
Without sins, he went home – naked in the dark. According to Aztec tradition, being naked in public was considered shameful, so this was a serious way to show guilt.
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Updated on February 11, 2024
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesReferences:
Kroger J, Granziera P. Aztec Goddesses and Christian Madonnas
More From Ancient Pages
-
Large Palace Discovered At Mayan City Of Kulubá In Yucatan, Mexico
Archaeology | Dec 27, 2019 -
Legendary ‘Orichalcum Metal’ Related To Atlantis Found In 2,600-Year-Old Shipwreck
Archaeology | Mar 3, 2017 -
On This Day In History: Battle Of San Domingo Was Fought – On February 6, 1806
News | Feb 6, 2017 -
Strange Story Of The Viking Who Mysteriously Vanished And Ended Up In America By Mistake – He Was Not Happy About It!
Vikings | Jan 7, 2025 -
The Writing Ball: A Great Invention In 1870
Ancient History Facts | Jun 30, 2016 -
Unique Ancient Artifacts Discovered In Melting Ice Patches In Norway
Archaeology | May 19, 2022 -
The Thunder Stone: World’s Largest Monolith Moved By Man
Ancient History Facts | Jun 14, 2018 -
DNA Study Of Ice Age Survivors Reveals A Surprise About The Gravettian Culture
Archaeology | Mar 1, 2023 -
A Huge Site Dated To Roman-Era Unearthed In Reims (Marne), France
Archaeology | Mar 20, 2023 -
A Sensational Bronze Age Grave Of 20-Year-Old Elite Woman Found In Town Of Mány, Hungary
Archaeology | Aug 8, 2022 -
‘Empty’ Egyptian Coffin Kept In Museum Contained A 2,500-Year-Old Mummy
Archaeology | Mar 31, 2018 -
Mama Cocha – Inca Goddess Of The Sea With Strong Connection To Lake Titicaca, Peru
Featured Stories | May 26, 2020 -
Trajan’s Market Was The World’s First Known Shopping Mall
Ancient History Facts | Jul 2, 2016 -
DNA Unravels Mysteries Of The Crannogs, Ancient Artificial Islands Older Than Stonehenge
Archaeology | Oct 10, 2022 -
Keeladi Excavations Reveal Unique 2,000-Year-Old Terracotta Pipelines, Open Water Channel
Archaeology | Oct 30, 2019 -
Young Warrior’s Grave Dated To A Sixth Century Unearthed At Langobard Necropolis In Czech Republic
Archaeology | Jul 5, 2022 -
Remains Of A 2,200-Year-Old Roman Fountain Discovered In Assos, Turkey
Archaeology | Aug 17, 2022 -
How Did Hindu God Shiva Get His Third Eye?
Featured Stories | May 13, 2019 -
Curious Ancient Copper Plates And The Mystery Of Indus Valley
Artifacts | Oct 24, 2015 -
On This Day In History: Joan Of Arc Was Captured By The Burgundians – On May 23, 1430
News | May 23, 2016