The gods of Mexico

"The Gods of Mexico" by Lewis Spence is a study of ancient Mexican religion at the turn of the 20th Century. It explores the gods and myths of the Aztec and Chichimec cultures, carefully separating them from Mayan beliefs and aims to understand the roots, features, and changes of these gods, along with the ceremonies and cultural importance linked to them. The book begins by preparing for an in-depth look at Mexican religious ideas, with the goal of differentiating the details of Nahua religion from other Central American traditions. Spence shows the complexity and growth of Mexican gods by shining a light on key ideas such as the agricultural importance of rain and the human sacrifices required from the gods. He names various gods and refers to the deep historical and archaeological understanding required in order to fully understand them. Spence uses an educational method to explain the complicated system of religious practices and stories that helped create the spiritual world of pre-Columbian Mexico.