The Aztecs were a fascinating Mesoamerican civilization that thrived in Central Mexico from the 14th to the 16th century. Their military power and conquests of the Aztec warriors are well-known, and their Aztec weapons played a significant role in their successes.
During the era of the Aztecs in ancient Mesoamerica, the choice of weapons was restricted due to the limited availability of materials. The Aztecs did not have access to metal, especially iron which was not available, while alternative metals such as gold, silver, or copper were not suitable for weapon-making.
As a result, Aztec warriors utilized resources such as wood and stone for weapon fabrication when stepping onto the battlefield. In this article, we will delve into the history of Aztec weapons, their uses and importance in Aztec warfare and culture, and how they impacted the outcome of battles.
Macuahuitl – The Obsidian Sword
The Macuahuitl, resembling a cricket bat, was a wooden weapon that combined the features of a club, a broadsword, and a chainsaw. Its edges were adorned with razor-sharp obsidian blades that could easily dismember limbs and cause immense damage.
Other Aztec weapons similar to the Macuahuitl were the Cuahuitl which was a brief wooden club and the Huitzauhqui which was shaped like a baseball bat and often had small blades or protrusions lined along its surface.
During the European invasion and colonization of Aztec lands, the macuahuitl weapon held a notorious reputation as the deadliest of all Aztec weapons. Europeans sent numerous macuahuitls to Europe for examination and investigation. The Aztecs also employed various modified designs of the Macuahuitl.
Tepoztopilli – The Aztec Spear
The Aztec version of the spear, the Tepoztopilli, had a lengthy wooden shaft and a shovel-shaped head that would have been fitted with obsidian edges. This weapon’s size varied from around 3 feet up to 7 feet in length, as tall as a human.
The Tepoztopilli would have been carried by the Aztec army’s front-line fighters due to its long reach. They advanced with this weapon, using its extended length to slice, jab, and knock down their opponents.
Tecpatl – The Obsidian Knife
The Tecpatl, a flint or obsidian knife, featured a double-edged blade with elongated ends, which could be either rounded or pointed. While some consisted of a blade attached to a handle, others displayed the top half in red to symbolize the blood, while the remaining portion remained white, representing the color of its flint blade.
Even though this knife was primarily used for human sacrifice among the Aztecs, it was also the chosen short-range Aztec weapon utilized by jaguar warriors. Although not heavily utilized on the battlefield, its sharp edges made it a potentially effective sidearm.
Atlatl – The Spear Thrower
The Aztec warriors utilized a tool known as Atlatl for hurling spears, darts, and arrows. Atlatl, or similar variations of the instrument, were widely used by the Maya civilization and other pre-Columbian societies across America.
These tools acted similarly to levers to extend the users’ throwing arms. The projectile’s bottom end would be placed on one end of the Atlatl, and with an overarm swinging motion, the weapon would be launched.
Tlahhuitolli – The long Bow and arrow
The Aztec military employed an Aztec version of longbows called Tlahhuitolli in Combat. It was a solid, one-piece recursive bow that measured approximately 5 feet in length when unstrung. The drawstrings were made from dried and thinned animal sinews.
Archers, also known as bowmen, were an esteemed group within the Aztec Warrior Society due to the extensive training required to become proficient. In combat, archers carried a quiver containing 10 to 15 obsidian, flint, or bone head arrows, some of which were spiked with barbed wires, obsidian, or stone for more lethal wounds.
The fletching was typically fashioned from turkey or duck feathers. While archers did not wear protective headgear, they did wear linen armor and carried a war shield and small daggers for additional protection.
Tlacalhuazcuahuitl – Dart gun
The Aztec warriors used a blowgun called Tlacalhuazcuahuitl which was made out of reed. It launched wooden darts which were possibly dipped in hazardous venom obtained from poisonous frogs that dwelled in nearby jungles. Although it’s believed that this ancient Aztec blowgun was mainly utilized for hunting, it could also have been advantageous in surprise assaults and raids.
Itztopilli – The Axe
During battles, the Aztecs utilized an axe-like weapon called Itztopilli. These weapons were quite similar to modern hatchets or tomahawks and incorporated wooden handles with sharpened metal or stone heads.
Chīmalli – The Shield
Aztec warriors utilized shields known as chīmalli, which were commonly manufactured from animal skin, feathers, and occasionally precious metals for decorative purposes. These shields served both as defensive equipment and works of art, displaying intricate mosaic patterns and motifs of feathers.
While they were not considered weapons, they played an essential role in the Aztec warrior’s arsenal, enabling them to block, parry, and strike their adversaries by bashing them on their opponents during assaults and military campaigns.
Tematlatl – The Sling
The Tematlatl, a type of sling utilized by Aztec fighters, allowed them to barrage their enemies with stones and rocks from medium to long distances. This particular sling was fashioned out of the leaf of the Furcraea plant, which naturally thrives in warm and rainy areas such as the Gulf of Mexico.