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The Massive Tower of Skulls That Horrified Conquistadors in Tenochtitlan
Why did the Aztecs partake in so much human sacrifice?
What could catch the eye and turn the stomachs of the conquistadors? Conquistadors were fearless explorers and ruthless conquerors. They went into the unknown, conquered whole kingdoms, and hauled gold and other loot through unknown jungles on foot. These were hard men who did unspeakable things. And yet, when bands of conquistadors entered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, they were fascinated and horrified by what they found.
The Aztecs were the builders of things known as tzompantli or skull racks. Skull racks were wooden scaffolds specially designed to hold human heads. The Aztecs would put the heads of conquered foes, criminals, and human sacrifices on these racks and proudly display them throughout their cities. Tenochtitlan had a half dozen of these tzompantli scattered throughout the city. But it wasn’t the presence of human skulls that so perturbed the conquistadors. After all, these were men who were brought up under the ruthless gaze of the Spanish Inquisition. It was the sheer number of skulls that were present in the city.
One special skull rack, known as the Hueyi Tzompantli, was the primary skull rack for the Aztec Empire. It sat in the center of the city, and…
