The Bloody Rites of the Aztec Civilization
The Aztecs, one of the most recognized ancient cultures, had some captivating practices, making them a fascinating subject of study. Among the most bizarre, awe-invoking, and unsettling customs were their religious rituals, particularly human sacrifices.
The Importance of Human Sacrifice
The Aztecs believed in several deities who were thought to sustain the universe. To show their gratitude and keep these gods pleased, they offered the highest form of sacrifice – human life. The belief was that without these sacrifices, the universe would come to an end.
The Rituals Involved
Typically, the sacrifices were conducted on a huge pyramid-like temple. The victims were made to climb the steep steps to the top, where the priests would make an incision in their chest, remove the still-beating heart, and hold it towards the sky in offering to the gods.
The Appetite for Mummies in Ancient Egypt
Everyone associates Egypt with the incredible pyramids and detailed hieroglyphs. But delve a little deeper, and you’ll find some truly exotic and bizarre practices hidden within the sands of time.
Mummies, The Snack of Choice
In the 16th and 17th centuries, powdered mummies imported from Egypt were a popular medicine in Europe. Known as ‘mummia’, it was used to treat various ailments, including epilepsy, stomach disorders, and even wounds!
Mummy in art
The use of mummia wasn’t limited to medicine. It was also a pigment used in the art world. Made from ground-up mummies, ‘Mummy Brown’ was a preferred color used by many painters until the late 19th century.
The Spartan Infanticide Practice
The Spartans, known for their epic tales of warfare and valor, had some customs that would make modern sensibilities shudder.
The Spartan Way of Life
Sparta had a rigorously selective society, aiming at physical perfection and military dominance. To ensure every Spartan was a fit and able warrior, they practiced systematic infanticide.
The Inspection at Birth
When a child was born in Sparta, they were inspected by a council of elders who assessed their physical attributes. If a baby was deemed weak or deformed, it was abandoned on a nearby hillside, left to its fate.
The Deadly Aghori Rituals of India
India is known for its diverse religious practices. However, one of them stands out for its bizarre and mind-boggling nature – the rituals of the Aghori sect.
Who are the Aghoris?
The Aghoris are a small sect of Hindu monks who live on the cremation grounds of Varanasi, the age-old city considered as the spiritual capital of India.
Taboo-breaking Practices
They engage in what most would consider macabre practices, including feasting on human flesh and bones, meditating in human skulls, and smearing their bodies with ashes from cremated bodies. These rituals are part of their belief in liberation from the cycle of life and death.
From the sacrifice-heavy rituals of the Aztecs to the mummia consumption of the Egyptians, from the ruthless selection process of the Spartans to the macabre rituals of the Aghoris, ancient cultures are filled with astonishing tales and practices. They serve to highlight the diversity of human beliefs, values, and traditions and reveal a gripping facet of our shared human history.