Human Sacrifice by the Priest Class
Definition
In certain societies, particularly among the Aztecs, human sacrifice was a religious practice conducted by priests where humans were killed as an offering to deities.
Analogy
Think of this like a very extreme version of donating something valuable to your favorite charity. Instead of money or goods though, the 'donation' is a human life and it's made not to help others but to appease powerful gods.
Related terms
Religion in Aztec Civilization: The complex polytheistic religion practiced by the Aztecs that included human sacrifice as part of its rituals.
Priest Class: A social class within the Aztec society responsible for performing religious ceremonies and sacrifices.
Templo Mayor: The main temple located in Tenochtitlan where many of these sacrifices took place.
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