Other Aztecs: the mystical and physical strength of animal warriors and their status in society (9 photos)
The cult of warriors is an integral part of the collective history of any people. Since the first tribes realized that it was easier to take property from their neighbors than to make it themselves, the warrior became a particularly respected member of society. 
This is understandable. Warriors protect and guard, and also raid others. And the importance of maintaining fighting strength led to the fact that tribes began to allocate a significant part of their resources to the maintenance of such people. 
These warriors stood apart from the rest of society. This was partly due to the fact that in most cases they were a parasitic part, absorbing resources but not being active. This was due to the nature of their profession. 
And so they kept to themselves, both avoiding their fellow tribesmen and feeling their awe and reverence for doing what was necessary and what no one else could do. This fetishization extended down to each individual (elementary - a regular fight is actually an effective way to resolve conflicts), and the figure of the "warrior" became mystical.
Throughout human history, there have been elite classes of warriors who stand apart from their society. And they are often endowed with animalistic features. European warriors are often compared to bears, lions, and wolves, the apex predators. 
And for the Aztecs, it was the eagle and the jaguar. The Aztecs represented two separate and very different predators for two classes of professional warriors. But in reality, they both acted in a similar way. And they even had a collective name for them: cuāuhocēlōtl. They were the special troops of the Aztec empire, and they had very specific duties.
The eagle warriors and the jaguar warriors were two different castes, each of which took the form of their totem animal. Both were Aztec infantry shock troops tasked with capturing captives for human sacrifice. 
Both were drawn from the upper classes of Aztec society, similar to medieval knights. But interestingly, commoners could also become eagle warriors: Aztec realpolitik made it a meritocracy, whereby key positions were filled by people based on ability, not just birth or wealth. 
Ancient Toltec City
The Aztec society was extremely hierarchical, with the elite claiming descent from semi-mythical figures from the Aztec past. This earlier civilization, the Toltecs, was held in high esteem by the Aztecs. Their architecture was copied, their heroes were legendary, and of course, all Aztec rulers wanted a piece of their predecessors' past glory.
Thus, the birth of an elite Eagle or Jaguar warrior as a commoner was a tacit admission by the Aztecs that birth alone determined merit. 
Faced with the brutal realities of the battlefield, they wanted the best fighters they could muster. However, most of them were members of the nobility and were recruited from the sons of the Aztec elite. Trained from an early age, only the best fighters became warriors of the Eagle or Jaguar. But why the eagle and the jaguar, beyond the obvious associations with power, strength, and predatory instinct? These two were chosen because of a specific Aztec legend.
Aztec mythology tells the story of two gods who selflessly sacrificed themselves to ignite the Sun and give life to all. Tecuzitzecatl and Nanahuatzin, without thinking, threw themselves into the fire and emerged as a jaguar and an eagle. 
This legend gives us a glimpse into how the Aztecs treated their elite warriors. They stand apart, with the best clothing, weapons, food, and jewelry, not because they were born noble and had wealth and status.
They stand apart because they are willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, for the good of their people. 
