![]() ![]() This demonstrates how obsidian functioned as a medium that bridged religion and economy.ĭue to its sacred metaphor and reflective characteristic, the European conquistadors viewed obsidian as a source of devil, based on the contradicting ideals from Christianity. Moreover, Aztec rulers’ usage of obsidian flint knife during ritual ceremonies empowered the role of obsidian and fostered the obsidian industry. Since obsidian was applied in numerous fields such as war, ceremonies, and artistic production, the obsidian industry stimulated Aztec economy. As “the place where gods are made,” Teotihuacan exercised its economic power by participating in both the production and fabrication of obsidian. By making Teotihuacan as its center, the obsidian industry stretched over the entire Aztec civilization and connected markets and temples. There were various types of obsidian produced throughout Aztec region, since the obsidian mines were commonly found in volcanic mountains (Stark). Obsidian’s role in Aztec society was crucial not only as a metaphor of divinity, but also as a material that politically connected religion and the economy. Therefore, the warriors participated in the sacred work of providing the source of tonalli through exercising divine order. Although obsidian is easy to break, the Aztec warriors used obsidian weapons instead of metal weapons, because they had to seize the captives for sacrificial ceremonies, not to win the battle by killing the enemies. The warriors who carried this sword was referred to as “he who uses obsidian” (Heyden 220), which also meant ‘he who uses the divine force’. Macuhuitls were wooden swords that has obsidian razors on the sides. The Aztec warriors also heavily relied on the obsidian razors to create weapons called macuhuitl. Due to its representative meaning and sharpness, obsidian knives were also applied in the warfare. The flint knife was also a physical form of deity named Xiuhtecuhtli, a fire deity who is in charge of the New Fire Ceremony. In this case, the obsidian flint knife functioned as a cosmic power that controlled the flow of the tonalli. By the process of pulling out the heart, the Aztecs believed that the energy or tonalli was stored through the interruption of divine energy (Duverger 369). During ritual ceremonies, Aztec priests used obsidian flint knives to offer a victim’s heart to the sun. Due to obsidian’s identity as a sacred force, its physical matter was widely applied where divine energy was required.Ī representative application of obsidian’s energy are obsidian knives. In addition, Tezcatlipoca the principal god was the sacred stone itself (Heyden 222). In the Florentine Codex, the deity Itzlacoliuhqui is a personification of curved obsidian. Also, obsidian’s association with the gods is clearly represented through the identification of Aztec deities. According to Heyden, the name Teotihuacan can also be reconstructed as “the place of the divine stone” (Heyden 219). The center of the obsidian industry was the city of Teotihuacan, which meant as “the place where gods are made” (Sahagún). Obsidian was not only a divine medium, but also a force, or energy itself deeply associated with Aztec religion. Obsidian’s sacred origin and eccentric physical characteristics made obsidian as a transcendental medium that connected cosmic and earthly worlds for the Aztecs. Also, the Aztec priests applied ashes and herbs in order to make their skins black and represent themselves as a communicator with divine forces. Therefore, among the many other colors of obsidian, the black obsidians were commonly applied on the sculptures of gods and mirror to accentuate divinity. In addition, black color and iridescence are further evidences of obsidian’s volcanic origin and physical transformation of tonalli. In the Mesoamerican culture, mountains, especially volcanoes, were considered holy places where not only ancestors and spirits dwelt, but also where fountains of condensed energy emerged from the interior of the earth (Saunders 221, Heyden 220). Obsidian’s sacred nature originated from its natural black color and iridescence. Obsidian was at the heart of Aztec civilization and functioned as: a visual metaphor of the Aztec’s religion, a medium that stimulated the Aztec’s economy, and as an efficient tool in Aztec culture. In addition to its distinctive physical characteristics, obsidian was an essential material in Aztec society. Although there are a few red or brown varieties, it is often found as black. Obsidian is created when lava cools down rapidly before the minerals crystallize. The medium of this wondrous head is obsidian, a volcanic glass that mystifyingly reflects light above its dark matter. Description of Tezcatlipoca, the "smoking mirror" ![]()
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