Aztec Tattoos

Aztec Tattoos

Aztec imagery is both culturally and historically powerful, hence has stood the test of time and is still seen inked on bodies across the world. The Aztec civilization ruled areas in and around Mexico as well as central America many thousands of years ago. The Aztec people used their bodies to express the tribe and their rank within that tribe. This including body piercings, paints as well as tattoos.

The Aztec people were warriors in the truest sense, who exhibited brute strength and an unrelenting will.

They stood for strength and were celebrated for their bravery in the battlefield. The Aztec warrior went into battle bear chested, and even sometimes naked, and was a formidable opponent who would only have victory on his mind.

Victory was intrinsically related to honor. Warrior training would begin in early childhood and a strong sense of honor would be instilled into them. A warrior would do everything in his power to preserve the honor of his people and his gods, even if that meant self sacrifice in the battle field.

So Aztec tattoos encompass of these traits, almost giving the wearer a warrior like statues. Aztec tattoos of warriors are easy to identify because they are very elaborate. These warriors unlike Celtics and other civilizations were heavily decorated with either animal heads or a huge fan full of feathers. Given they once occupied Mexico, you can image the color and flamboyance of the Aztec people.

Aztec tattoos are a lot more detailed than many other tribal tattoo art forms. They have much more intricacies, are much more vivid and are not so static in their look.

Aztec tattoos- The Warriors

As Aztecs were primarily known to be warriors many tattoos will represent that. The main warrior classes were the eagle, the jaguar and the Otontin warriors. Once an individual has shown numerous acts of heroism in battle he will be upgraded to wearing the revered eagle outfit to display his battlefield prowess to all. This warrior is depicted as having a costume of feathers with an eagle head downing the top of the warriors head. A Jaguar warrior outfit beckons a even higher honor and this warrior is depicted as having a jaguar head on top of his head and a cloak of jaguar fur. Many people who want a Aztec themed tattoo will gear towards the portrait of a eagle or a jaguar warrior to elevate their status to that of these esteemed warrior classes. Aesthetically these tattoos look stunning.

Aztec Tattoos - The Warrior God

The Aztecs worshipped 100’s of gods, but the most worshipped of all was the god of all gods, the Warrior god-Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca was also known as the night god and was invisible and it was only in the night that his presence was felt. He would take the form of strong whistling winds or some forms of magic. He was also associated with the destiny or fate of men. He was known to own a magic mirror which revealed all to him, he would punish the wrong doers by omitted smoke from his mirror and bestowing wealth and fortune onto those who pleased him. Tezcatlipoca is often depicted in tattoos being very elaborately dressed and as having horizontal bands across his face especially in black and yellow.

Aztec Tattoos - The Calendar And The Sun God

Aztec Tattoos

The Aztec calendar is a very important symbol of the Aztec people. It is circular and has pictures of various facial features. According to Aztec culture each creature represents a certain month, and each creature has very specific strengths and qualities. They each exhibit mystical powers and spiritual properties. In the center of the calendar is the most revered of all gods- the sun god. The calendar would make for a very elaborate tattoo design and needs to be occupied on a large area if one wants to do it any justice.

When it comes to Aztec tattoos, the calendar is one of the most popular of all Aztec inspired tattoos. Some are more simplistic and more stylized than the traditional calendar with all its intricacies. In some tattoos the sun god take up a large percentage of the calendar.

The sun god was of prime importance as the Aztecs believed him to be the representation of life itself and the guardian of heaven and afterlife. Warriors believed that the sun god gave them the power, energy and strength needed to defeat enemies in the battlefield, and they were in turn sacrificed to the sun god. The sun god is often depicted in the center of Aztec calendars with his tongue sticking out. Its no wonder then that some calendar Aztec tattoos have an enlarged sun god, which can symbolize energy and power to its wearer.