The ancient Aztecs invented a game called Volador, the flying bird game.  Wearing costumes designed with beaks and feathers, Aztec athletes would complete to see who could complete the round trip with the most style and speed. 

The game went something like this - First, all the players climbed a 60-90 foot pole. After they reached the top, they each tied a rope to the top of the pole. Hanging on tightly with their legs, they spread their arms wide, kicked off, and sailed around the pole like eagles until they reached the ground again. Many spectators gathered to watch the flying birds. It was a very dangerous sport. 

Today, well-trained Mexican acrobats perform this wonderful spectacle. If you ever get a chance to see a performance, don’t miss it. It’s absolutely fabulous. 

Other Aztec achievements and inventions include: 

• Chinampas - Floating Gardens
  
  

• Causeways and Bridges that linked the islands of their great capital city of Tenochtitlan together.
  
  

• Structures – Statues, Pyramids, Temples  
  
  

• Stelas – Memorial pillars commemorating their gods and major events  
  
  

• Codices (sacred texts) The Aztecs had a written language of hieroglyphics, similar to but not the same as the Maya writings.  
  
  

• Judges, written laws and rules of society - correct behavior  
  
  

• Woven fabrics  
  
  

• Basket weaving  
  
  

• Aztec ball games 
  
  

• Popcorn
  
  

• Chocolate
  
  

• Mandatory Schools
  
  
  

Take a look at some Aztec Artifacts (made by students)

Aztec Calendar