In Aztec society, religion was not a separate institution but was woven into every aspect of life from cradle to grave. Many of the Aztec gods and rituals had existed in Mesoamerican cultures for centuries, but many others were unique to the Aztecs. The Aztec religious system was tightly organized and closely linked to the state. However, considerable diversity existed as people in the city-states worshipped their own patron gods as well as the principal gods of the empire.

Intellectual Aztecs conceived of the supreme god as a single, invisible, all-powerful force that was both male and female. All other gods were only manifestations of this supreme deity. This concept was not widely shared among the people, however, who looked upon the numerous gods as real and personal.

Religious Organization

The Aztec religious institution was organized much like the governmental structure, with the emperor at the top. Although...