Ancient cultures in Mesoamerica have a reputation for practicing human sacrifice, much of which is dramatized and over exaggerated. The idea that many people have of human sacrifice is much more intense than it was, with rumors of the heart being ripped from the chest of an alive victim, decapitation, skinning and dismemberment. Although many of these things did happen, it was not a constant and everyday thing for the people of Mesoamerica. It is important to remember that for these cultures, sacrifice was an art and a religious practice, and was ritualized and was regarded as a valued part of religious practice and a major part of their culture.
Many cultures in Mesoamerica practiced human sacrifice. The civilizations which practiced sacrifice