Where Did The Aztecs Find Obsidian?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Sources in

the Valley of Mexico

, which fell under Teotihuacan control during the Early Classic, were Pachuca, Otumba, and Chicoloapan. Obsidian from Pachuca is notable because of its unique green-gold color and its internal purity which makes it one of the highest quality obsidian sources in Mesoamerica.

Did Mayans use obsidian?

The ancient Maya used

obsidian blades for bloodletting rituals

. Caves are locations for the performance of ancient Maya ritual. Technological and use-wear analyses of obsidian blades from Actun Uayazba Kab, Belize. Some obsidian blades from Actun Uayazba Kab were used for bloodletting.

Did the Aztecs use Obsidian?


Aztec swords were made with rows of small obsidian teeth

. They were murderous weapons for cutting an enemy. … Now we find that being cut with obsidian is less painful than you’d think, because it makes such a sharp edge. So obsidian became woven into Aztec worship as well as Aztec function.

What Stone did the Aztecs use?

Mexica sun stone Material

Basalt
Created Sometime between 1502 and 1520 Discovered 17 December 1790 at El Zócalo, Mexico City Present location National Anthropology Museum (Mexico City)

What did obsidian mean to the Mayans?

Given its sharpness, the stone is considered to pierce into darkness to reveal the truth itself. The Mayan prophets used polished Obsidian as

“mirrors” for scrying purposes

; their way of prophesizing the future.

Is obsidian rare?

Obsidian is relatively unstable from a geologic perspective.

It is rare to find obsidian older than about 20 million years

, which is very youthful in comparison to most continental rocks that form the Earth’s crust.

Is obsidian a real thing?

Earth > If Rocks Could Talk > Obsidian. Rondi: Everyone, meet Obsidian , an

igneous rock

that from melted rock, or magma. Obsidian is an “extrusive” rock, which means it is made from magma that erupted out of a volcano.

Who was the Aztec god of the moon?

In Aztec mythology,

Metztli (Nahuatl: [metstɬi]; Meztli, Metzi)

was a god or goddess of the moon, the night, and farmers. She or they were probably the same deity as Yohaulticetl and Coyolxauhqui and the male moon god Tecciztecatl; like the latter, she feared the Sun because she feared its fire.

How many Aztec gods are there?

The Aztecs believed in a complex and diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses. In fact, scholars have identified

more than 200 deities

within Aztec religion.

Where is the Aztec sun stone now?

The stone was discovered in December 1790 CE in the central plaza of Mexico City and now resides in

the National Museum of Anthropology

in that city.

What is so special about obsidian?

obsidian,

igneous rock occurring as a natural glass formed by the rapid cooling of viscous lava from volcanoes

. Obsidian is extremely rich in silica (about 65 to 80 percent), is low in water, and has a chemical composition similar to rhyolite. Obsidian has a glassy lustre and is slightly harder than window glass.

Why did Aztecs use obsidian?

Aztec swords were made with rows of small obsidian teeth. They were

murderous weapons for cutting an enemy

. … Now we find that being cut with obsidian is less painful than you’d think, because it makes such a sharp edge. So obsidian became woven into Aztec worship as well as Aztec function.

What god is associated with obsidian?

Tezcatlipoca Parents Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl (Codex Zumarraga) Siblings Quetzalcoatl, Xipe-Totec, Huitzilopochtli (Codex Zumarraga) Children None

What is the rarest obsidian?

Fire Obsidian is a rare form with an iridescent quality and is found in the Northwest of the U.S.A.

What is the rarest color of obsidian?

Data Value Colors Black; gray, banded with brown streaks.

Green, blue, and reddish stones (transparent)

are very rare. Iridescence noted: gold, silver, blue, violet, green, and combinations of these colors, due to inclusions of minute bubbles that reflect light.

Is obsidian worth money?


Obsidian is not an expensive stone

. This being the case, a piece of obsidian can cost $2 or $100 depending on the quality and processing it has undergone, you can shop at Amazon. Like other gemstones, excellent quality cutting and polishing will increase the value of a stone, including obsidian.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.