The enormous relief carving of the Aztec moon goddess Coyolxauhqui (3.4.17),found beneath the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan,shows a mythical event and has nothing to do with the sacrificial ritual that occurred at the temple.

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The relief carving of Coyolxauhqui indeed depicts a mythical event, but it is also deeply connected to the sacrificial rituals performed at the temple. The myth of Coyolxauhqui, who was defeated by her brother Huitzilopochtli, the sun god, symbolized the victory of the sun over the moon and darkness, which justified and sanctified the practice of human sacrifice to ensure the sun's rebirth and the continuation of the world.

The Enormous Relief Carving of the Aztec Moon Goddess Coyolxauhqui