They may not be as deeply known from at least a religious standpoint in the Northern Hemisphere as, say, the myths and ancient world of the Egyptians, Greeks, Norse, and Japanese, but the Aztecs remain fascinating nonetheless. In fact, their relative lack of coverage and exploration only helps to fuel the intrigue for many.
Some would even make the case that some of the most important decisions ever made by the Aztecs are still having a huge impact on everyday life in the Mexican capital today. After all, it was their capital of Tenochtitlan built on the network of lakes that underpins modern Mexico City, which itself is now sinking as a result.
Discovering the Aztecs at Home and in Media
It’s always good to fan the flames of intrigue whenever they begin to crackle, but not everyone can just dart off to Mexico City at the drop of a hat. While few and far between, there are some good explorations of the Aztecs and Aztec culture that have been melded into more entertainment-leaning creations for easier consumption. Of course, the best place to start is with a good book, and for myths, few hold a candle to The Aztec Myths by Camilla Townsend. In 2022, indie game Aztech: Forgotten Gods earned praise for its gameplay and exploration of Aztec myths while infusing it with some cyber-stone tech. Historical simulations are the main
port of call, though. Age of Empires II and the Civilization series have Aztecs as playable factions, but to truly feel their might, try to take them on in Medieval II: Total War. Easily the most frequent exploration of the Aztec civilisation as a theme, however, comes by way of iGaming creations. The collection of Aztec games found at the top casino online Canada has to offer features 18 different games. They span a host of mechanics as well as different Aztec themes like their famed warriors, the temples, idols, and the gods.
Exploring the Aztec Side of Mexico City
As noted, Mexico City was built on top of the main settlement of the Aztecs. So, while much of the ancient city was levelled, there are still plenty of parts that survived dotted around the city, beneath the city, and not too far away from the city limits. Within, you can look to Templo Mayor, which was discovered in 1978, or Tlalpan, which is home to the Cuicuilco archaeological site. Naturally, to see the many other prizes discovered in the excavations of the city over the
decades and many of the other discoveries, the best place to go is the Museo Nacional de Antropología. Mexico’s anthropology museum is filled with ancient Mexican art, Aztec artefacts, the jade mask of the bat god Zapotec, and the famed Aztec Calendar, the Sun Stone. Venturing out of Mexico City, you’ll find many sites left behind by the Aztecs which were spared and then preserved by later generations of inhabitants. A must-see is mount Tepozteco, which stands over the little town of Tepoztlan. It’s here that Quetzalcoatl was said to be born. You can also go to the incredible Ciudad Prehispánica de Teotihuacán, which sits about 30 minutes
away from the capital city. Mexico City may have been built on top of the famed Aztec capital, but there’s plenty left to explore if you want to discover more about the fascinating and often overlooked ancient civilisation.