Once fit only for the eyes of the Aztec gods, mortals visiting Melbourne Museum's latest exhibition will soon have their own divine experience.
One of the centrepieces of the museum's latest exhibition Aztecs is a sacred, 600-year-old ceramic water vessel, once buried deep inside the spiritual Templo Mayor as an offering to the gods.
Hidden in a stone case away from prying eyes, it was intended as a gift for the gods alone.
But starting April 9, it can enjoyed by all, divine or not.
One of more than 200 objects discovered at The Templo Mayor, the indigo blue water vessel depicting the god of rain Tlaloc is considered one of the most exquisitely preserved Aztec objects of ritual.
The Templo Mayor Museum's director of conservation Maria Barajas said the Aztecs regularly gave offerings such as the water vessel to appease Tlaloc but ones in such pristine condition were rarely found.
"These artefacts let us understand the way the Aztec people thought," Barajas told AAP.
"Every offering is a chance to see in a small space their beliefs."
The water vessel is one of 200 objects selected by Mexican curator Raul Barrera to tell the tale of the dramatic rise and fall of the Aztec empire.
Museum Victoria CEO Patrick Greene said he expects the new exhibition to open people's eyes to the rich but bloody history of the Aztecs.
"Everyone has heard of the Aztecs but beyond that the knowledge of who they were, when they were and what they believed in is really limited," Dr Greene said.
"It's not just a collection of fantastic objects, but the real story is about belief, about sacrifice and eventually the crashing end of Aztec civilisation."
To accompany the artefacts, Melbourne Museum is also constructing a replica of The Templo Mayor which will give visitors an inside view of the Aztec architecture, Dr Green said.
The Aztecs exhibition opens in Melbourne on April 9 and runs through to August 10 before heading to Sydney in mid-September.
