The Horrifying Sound of an Aztec Death Whistle


(Photo: Oregon Flute Store)

Many years ago, archaeologists discovered skull-shaped whistles at Aztec sites. They believe that priests used these instruments during human sacrifice ceremonies. Quijas Yxayotl, a musician who specializes in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican traditions, developed a modern version. It produces a sound just like that of people screaming in terror. The whistle is like something out of a horror movie!

You can hear Yxayotl perform the Aztec death whistle in this video. Skip to the 0:49 mark to hear the screaming.


(Video Link)

I'm envious. Those of us with Scottish heritage have no instrument comparable to the Aztec death whistle.

-via Oddity Central


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I remember my Latin American history prof in college telling me that the Aztec human sacrifice system worked.

If there's a famine, then the gods are angry. Start engaging in human sacrifice. This reduces the population and thus raises the per capita food available. Also, since cannibalism is part of the practice, there's more meat to go around.
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I tried to get a haunted house I was working at to integrate this into some Aztec-themed scenes we had but they didn't do it. Shame, really, it would've been perfect. Educational, even.
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