Cuauhxicalli

By Crusader1307

A ''Religious Device'' used by The Ancient Aztec Peoples, ''Cuauhxicalli'' were stone containers, shaped into various animal shapes  most popularly, The Eagle (seen as sacred). It was into these ''bowls'' that extracted Human Hearts, taken during sacrifice to The Gods  were kept. The Heart was seen as a fitting offering to The Gods and a ''Scared Animal'' shape was used to portray the Heart ''in the belly'' of The Gods. In later fashion, after a ''suitable'' period of time  The Heart was burned. The Cuauhxicalli were seldom painted, but carved be be as realistic as possible.