Woman In Aztec Civilization | Women Who Die In Childbirth Are Honored As Fallen Warriors!
The legendary Aztec civilization flourished in modern-day central Mexico, after migrating from a homeland called ‘Aztlan.’ Aztecs closed off military culture to women and made their role more specific to domestic and reproductive. However, one incredible belief in the center of Aztec civilization proclaimed women who died in childbirth as fallen warriors. To them, childbirth was not just a natural happening; it was an insupportable battle. It granted women who died in labor the same status as men who died in war, allowing their souls to rise to the exact same exalted afterlife. Such respect just proves how major a part women played in Aztec civilization. Let’s explore more about women in Aztec.
Pregnancy in Aztec Society
In Aztec culture, expectant mothers were given specific advice regarding their behavior and diet during pregnancy. During the early months of pregnancy, women were encouraged to have sexual relations with their husbands. Their intention was to promote the child’s development. However, by the seventh or eighth month, they were advised to abstain, as it could harm the child.
Pregnant women were also told to avoid spending too much time in sweat baths, as excessive heat could harm the baby. Chewing chicle was also not advised due to the belief that it could result in physical defects. The expectant mother was encouraged to eat well, as the baby relied on her nourishment. Avoiding stress, lifting heavy objects, and fulfilling the mother’s desires were considered essential for the health of the baby.
The tlamatlquiticitl, or midwife, played a crucial role during pregnancy, offering advice and taking over household duties as the pregnancy progressed. This support, combined with guidance on managing stress and physical exertion, contributed to a healthier pregnancy.
Labor in Aztec Society
As labor approached, the mother would begin to feel discomfort, signaling that the birth was near. The tlamatlquiticitl, who stayed with the family, helped prepare for the delivery. If the baby was in a breech position, the midwife would use massage techniques, often in a sweat bath, to help reposition the baby.
Women typically gave birth in a squatting position, using gravity to assist with delivery. If labor needed to be induced, the tlamatlquiticitl used natural remedies such as Montanoa tomentosa and, if necessary, a drink made from possum tail. These remedies were later proven to promote contractions, although they were viewed with suspicion by the Spanish, who saw them as witchcraft.
Birth was seen as a battle, and mothers were symbolically equipped with a small shield and spear. After delivery, the midwife would make cries of praise, honoring the mother for her effort. The umbilical cord was cut and dried, symbolizing the connection between the child, the mother, and the gods. The placenta was buried in the home, with the umbilical cord being buried in a specific location depending on the child’s gender—near a battlefield for boys and under the hearth for girls, signifying their future roles in society.
Childbirth as a Battle in Aztec Civilization
Birth in Aztec civilization was not only bringing life into the world but also a fight of a warrior. Aztecs viewed a laboring woman as struggling in a battle, as dangerous and honorable as any fought by men on a battlefield. The delivery room they referred to was the field of battle in which the mother combated against life and death.
If a woman died in childbirth, the Aztecs treated her as a warrior who had died on the battlefield. They believed her soul went on a holy journey, accompanying the sun god across the sky. She joined him in the western paradise of the high heaven that fearless male warriors entered at the moment of their death in battle. That certainty was one way the parallel between the sacrifice of war and the sacrifice of motherhood was deeply imprinted.
Society gave these women the most ostentatious funerals. Warrior women carried their bodies to prevent evil spirits from seizing them. Sometimes, they amputated the right hand in order to make talismans out of them. Warriors used them to gain strength while going into war. This practice simply reflected the great respect and honor that Aztec civilization bestowed upon the women who died in childbirth.
Aztec Marriages
Aztec marriage practices are quite similar to the Maya Civilization. Aztecs got married during their late teens and early twenties. The marriages were initiated by the parents of the groom. They first consult with the extended kinship group, and approach a professional matchmaker (Classical Nahuatl: ah atanzah). The matchmaker then reach out to the family of the potential bride. The parents of the bride then makes the decision to either accept or reject the proposal. Typically, young brides were expected to be virgins before marriage.
The wedding celebration lasts for four days, while the ceremony takes place on the first day. The bride gets decorated with fine clothing and robes and her kinswomen adorn her hands and legs with red feathers. The women also paint the bride’s face with a paste that has small shimmering crystals.
The ceremony is held at the house of the groom’s parents. The crowd lights a fire and burn incense as an offering to the gods. The ritual is completed and the marriage is official when the matchmaker ties the groom’s cape to the bride’s skirt. The groom’s mother would then feed both the bride and groom four mouthfuls of tamales.
If the marriage does not work out the couples were able to petition for legal separation. The reason could vary incompatibility, infertility, or abuse. Also, the ones who are either divorced or widowed were allowed to remarry.
Roles and Responsibilities of Women in Aztec Civilization
In Aztec civilization, women had important positions that did not merely end with motherhood. They attended to the needs of the home, prepared the meals, and wove. From a very tender age, girls had been taught to acquire certain basic skills like weaving and cooking skills, which were essential in daily life. Actually, they were the backbone of the domestic domain.
Education is also featured in their lives. Girls attended school where they would study religion, music, and dancing. They would also participate in religious activities offering prayers and sacrifices to gods. They even served as priestesses, midwives who led spiritual activities and assisted childbirth.
Besides, they took part in the marketplace as traders of goods they had produced. Trading goods had an impact on the economy and enabled them to maintain their social contacts. The multifunctional role of the women revealed the importance of a woman in sustaining the civilization of Aztecs.
Cultural Significance in Aztec Civilization
This practice reflected the very core values of Aztec civilization: it showed great respect for sacrifice and duty. The Aztecs considered women who died in childbirth, by parity of esteem, to be fallen warriors. They recognized the dangerous passage that brought life into the world.
The beliefs also overemphasized that life and death are complementary. Birth and death were not viewed purely as a start and an end but a passage that maintained the universe. This outlook on life trickled right through to the rituals, art, and societal structures of the tribe.
Understanding this aspect of the Aztec civilization indeed provides a deeper understanding of the complex society that it was. It is here that one discovers how much importance they attached to the contribution of every individual towards the bigger unity. The respect accorded to these women speaks to the richness of their tapestry.
Conclusion
The Aztecs treated women who died in childbirth with the same respect as warriors who died in battle. This fact accentuates the great functions women played and how the society valued motherhood a lot. It showed that men and women both made necessary sacrifices to their community.
This unique aspect of Aztec civilization gives a meaningful background to the appreciation of their culture and value system. This does show us how different societies pay their respects and show their appreciation for their people’s efforts. In this respect, the awe given by the Aztecs to these women is simply intriguing into their way of thinking and the regard they consider for the life cycle.
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