The Aztecs were a pagan group that flourished in Mexico several centuries ago and worshiped many deities, one of which was Huitzilopochtli, whose name is loosely translated to "Blue Hummingbird of the South." Despite that rather timid appellation Huitzilopochtli was the fearsome God of War in the hierarchy of Aztec religion.
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| Huitzilopochtli |
Most images of Huitzilopochtli show him holding
in his right hand an atlatl, essentially a stick with a handle on one end and a hook that engaged a
light spear on the other; the flipping motion propelled the spear faster and
farther than it could be thrown by hand alone. The atlatl was the weapon of
choice for the Aztecs, who had not yet been introduced to firearms. |
| A real atlatl |
A select
group of latter-day Aztec warriors was equipped with "atlatls with wings" that
helped them hasten the downfall of the Axis nations in WW II. In his imaginary persona
Huitzilopochtli
would have been proud of these fighters.
