A hummingbird’s torpor is like a mini-hibernation, where they enter a motionless, sleep-like state. One rather unusual trait of the hummingbird, known as torpor, caused the Aztecs to ascribe them supernatural abilities. And, just as the Jaguar warriors were associated with Tezcatlipocha, the eagle warriors became linked to Huitzilopochtli. In battle, these elite warriors dressed in fine, eagle-themed regalia. This elite group of decorated veterans was on the same level as the Jaguar warriors. The Aztec belief in the martial power of eagles is evident in their creation of the Eagle warriors. This proximity to the sun at the moment of creation, it was thought, is what gave the eagles of Mexico their distinctive black tipped wings. In Aztec religion, it was believed that an eagle was present during the birth of the sun, that is, the beginning of everything. As a fierce bird of prey, the eagle became associated with the sky, war, and one of their principal deities, Huitzilopochtli. The cuauhtli symbol was even used to denoted a day in the Aztec calendar. The eagle, or cuauhtli in the Nahuatl language, was one of the most important and pervasive symbols of the Aztec world. Jaguars were so important, they even had a day named after them in the Aztec calendar. The ferocity of the jaguar and its namesake warriors also lead the Jaguar warriors to become associated with one of the two creator gods, Tezcatlipocha. Adorning in clothing designed to mimic the natural spots of the jaguar, these fearsome warriors were one of the two most revered bodies of soldiers in the Aztec Empire – the other being the Eagle Warriors. Known as the Jaguar warriors, this elite corp of fighters were made up of distinguished veterans who had proven themselves in battle. The jaguar’s natural stealth, power, and speed made them the perfect symbol for one of the Aztec’s elite warrior class. The Aztecs, the dominant military power of their day, followed suit. Throughout Mesoamerican history, in fact, civilizations such as the Xochicalo, Tula, and others had used the jaguar as a symbol of military might. Just like today, they sat comfortably at the top of the food chain. Jaguar image from the Codex MagliabechianoĪs you can probably imagine, the jaguar was one of the fiercest animals in the Aztec world.
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