The Aztecs believed that sacrificing prisoners of war to the god Huitzilopochtil was necessary to appease the god and maintain the cosmic balance. They believed that Huitzilopochtil, as the god of war and the sun, required human blood in order to continue rising and setting. By sacrificing prisoners of war, the Aztecs sought to honor Huitzilopochtil and ensure the continued prosperity and survival of their civilization.
