ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Aztec mythology

Okay kiddo, let me tell you all about Aztec Mythology!

Back in the olden days, before there were cities or cars or even TVs, there was a group of people living in Mexico called the Aztecs. They had their own special stories and characters that they believed in and called their gods.

The Aztecs had lots of different gods, each with their own special powers and purposes. For example, there was a god named Huitzilopochtli who was the god of war and the sun. They believed that if they didn't honor him with sacrifices, the sun wouldn't rise and their crops wouldn't grow. They also had a goddess named Coatlicue who was the mother of all the other gods. She had a scary appearance with a skirt made of snakes and hands with sharp claws.

The Aztecs believed that the gods controlled everything in their world, like the weather, the crops, and even their own personal fortunes. They would pray to the gods and make offerings to them in hopes that they would be kind and provide for them.

Some of the Aztec myths are pretty exciting! One of them is about two gods named Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca who played a game of ball. But it wasn't just any ordinary ball, it was made out of human skulls! The two gods were fighting for control over the world, and the game was supposed to decide who would win.

Another myth is about a group of gods who sacrificed themselves to create the world. They had to jump into a fire and be burned alive, but from their ashes, the world was formed.

Overall, Aztec mythology is a fascinating look into the beliefs and traditions of an ancient civilization. While their stories may seem strange to us now, they were an important part of the Aztec people's lives and helped to shape their cultural identity.