What action did the Aztec leader take with the defeated Tepanex leader's heart?

The Aztec leader's decision to cut out the defeated Tepanex leader's heart and offer the blood to Lake Texcoco is reflective of the role that human sacrifice played in Aztec religion and culture. In Aztec belief systems, blood was considered to be a vital force and was seen as a nurturing offering to the gods, essential for maintaining the universe and ensuring agricultural fertility. Lake Texcoco held particular significance, as it was a central location in the Aztec Empire and symbolized life and sustenance.

The act of removing the heart and conducting a blood offering to a sacred site underscores the intense rituals associated with warfare and conquest. Such acts were meant to not only appease the gods but also to demonstrate power and assert dominance over defeated enemies. This practice was common among the Aztecs, who believed that they needed to continuously nourish their deities with human blood to prevent the collapse of the world.

Other options suggest different responses to the defeated leader's heart that do not align with the known practices of the Aztecs regarding sacrificial rituals. Burying the heart with honor, for instance, would not have produced the intended religious and political results that accompanied visible displays of power, whereas burning it in a ritual may not