How The Aztecs And The Norse Display Similarities And Differences

The question this paper strives to answer is: “To what extent do the mythologies of the Aztecs and the Norse display similarities and differences?” Mythologies around the world are based heavily upon the environment in which the practicing group lives, and their history. However, it has become apparent that some mythologies display many similar elements, prompting the discussion into the similarities and differences between the mythologies of two separate cultures. These two cultures are the Aztecs and the Norse. The Aztecs were a society who live in Mesoamerica, specifically the Valley of Mexico. The Aztecs are said to not have settled there until about 1320 or 1325 when they founded their capital city, Tenochtitlan. For 200 years prior

The Aztec gods did not have a human form and remained invisible to their people, so the Aztecs assigned them particular clothing and jewelry, and would dress like them in ceremonies. To help them connect with their gods, the Aztecs relied heavily on priests, who had specific rules, and traditions surrounding them. Aztec priests were the middlemen between the gods and the people, and as a result they performed complex rituals and had to follow strict guidelines as to their actions and behaviors. Often described as haggard, and weary, priests were expected to participate in extended periods of fasting, be celibate, and perform vigils in which they walked their city’s borders at night in a ritualistic circuit. In addition, priests were also expected to regularly perform auto-sacrifice, a type of penance in which they drew their own blood by sticking thorns from the maguey plant into their arms and legs, and stuck barbed cords through their earlobes and tongues. Because of their relation to the gods priests often had a stable, respected position in society. Most were associated with a specific temple where they could have many different jobs. Priests performed jobs such as managing food, land, and personnel, teaching the noble class, being warriors, artists, or scribes, and a few even specialized in divining the future. The Aztecs

According to Norse mythology there existed a giant ash tree named Yggdrasil which connected all nine realms of the universe. Near the roots of the tree was Niflheim, the cold and icy realm of the dead. Near the middle was Midgard, the home of humans, Jotunheim, home of the giants, Svartalfheim, home of the dark elves, and Nidavellir, home of the dwarfs. Finally, at the top of Yggdrasil was Asgard. Asgard was the home of the Norse gods , the Aesir and the Vanir, although the Vanir also had another home in the realm of Vanaheim. The Norse believed that their world, Midgard, was connected to the realm of the gods, Asgard, through something called the Bifröst. The Bifröst was a rainbow bridge constructed of three strands of fire that only the gods were allowed to cross. Guarding the Bifröst, and Asgard, from intruders was a god named Heimdall. Heimdall possessed a sword named Höfund, and a horn named Gjallar, with which he would protect and warn Asgard respectively. The Norse also believed that one day everything would be destroyed. According to legend, one day Ragnarok would arrive; the enemies of the gods, the giants, would rise and Asgard would be destroyed and a new world would