Sinister skull rack found at Templo Mayor

Posted On: Aug 30th, 2015 at 14:43

Mexico
One of the most sinister practises in history was that of the skull rack, implemented by the Mexica culture in western Mexico.
The Mexica – more commonly called the Aztec and who gave the modern country its name – filled their enemies with fear and dominated them through the rapid rise of a military state. Rather like the spread of a virus, the Mexica quickly invaded and incorporated other, smaller, tribes into the Mexica Empire, somewhat like the Romans but with seemingly more barbarity.
One of the traditions of the Mexica was the skull rack. Dozens of skulls were loaded onto a rack after holes were made through the sides of the heads, and this was done prior to any form of excarnation (defleshing). The skulls were then put onto display horizontally for all to see, most probably to instil fear into the local populace but also to terrify any enemies. The smell and sight must have been horrendous as the skulls were then left to decompose, and no doubt flesh-eating birds and rats were aplenty. The streets must have been filled with blood and bits of flesh.
I wonder if the local supermarkets were across the road?
Only a few skull racks have ever been found, and this particular rack, found in Templo Mayor in modern-day Mexico City, is unique in that the skulls all face inwards instead of outwards. It is also thought the be the main skull rack of the city state, since it is located in the Templo Mayor (Main Temple). Archaeologists have no idea what the skulls were facing, but I presume it was most likely some form of death god. Or perhaps they hung live people in the middle and left them to die as a form of punishment.
Either way, if anyone ever invents a time machine I shall definitely avoid Mexico in the sixteenth century.

http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-finds-main-skull-rack-aztec-temple-complex-202602696.html