Eagle warrior Eagle warriors or eagle knights ( Classical Nahuatl : " cuāuhtli " ( singular ) or " cuāuhtmeh " ( plural ) ) were a special class of infantry soldier in the Aztec army , one of the two leading military orders in Aztec society . They were a type of Aztec warrior called a " cuāuhocēlōtl " . The word " cuāuhocēlōtl " derives from the Eagle warrior " cuāuhtli " and the Jaguar Warrior " ocēlōtl " . These military orders were made up of the bravest soldiers of noble birth and those who had taken the greatest number of prisoners in battle . Of all of the Aztec warriors , they were the most feared . Eagle warriors , along with the Jaguar warrior s , were the only such societies which did not restrict access solely to the nobility , as commoners or , in Nahuatl , " mācēhualli " were occasionally admitted for special merit . The " Eagles " were soldiers of the sun , for the eagle was the symbol of the sun . The life of Aztec warriors was one of constant battle , as the primary purpose for this continual warfare was to take prisoners to be sacrificed to their gods . As the Aztec empire expanded , however , the expansion of the empire in size and power became increasingly important . In current culture , the eagle warrior is a representation of the Aztec culture , and therefore the Mexican tradition . Some companies use the eagle warrior as a symbol that denotes strength , aggressiveness , competitiveness , and obviously remembrance of the ancient cultures of Mexico . AeroMexico ' s logo , for instance , shows a " cuāuhtli " . Education . All Aztec boys , both free commoners and nobility , learned about weapon ry and warfare as part of their basic education . Until the age of fourteen , the education of children was in the hands of their parents , but was supervised by the authorities of their Calpulli . Periodically they attended their local temples , which tested their progress . However , only the best students could progress to become eagle warriors as they are considered as one of the nobility in Aztec Society . The empire was split in pieces : kings ( thought to be gods ) , nobles , generals , priests , peasants , and finally slaves . Pre - Columbian Aztec society was a highly complex and stratified society that developed among the Aztecs of central Mexico in the centuries prior to the Spanish conquest of Mexico , and which was built on the cultural foundations of the larger region of Mesoamerica . Politically , the society was based around the independent city - state , called an altepetl , composed of smaller divisions ( calpulli ) , which were again usually composed of one or more extended kinship groups . Socially , the society depended on a rather strict division between nobles and free commoners , both of which were themselves divided into elaborate hierarchies of social status , responsibilities , and power . Economically the society was dependent on agriculture , and also to a large extent on warfare . Other economically important factors were commerce , long distance and local , and a high degree of trade specialisation . Rite of passage . At the age of 17 , young Aztec men became warriors and entered formal military training . The recruits were expected to be brave and noble . Those who were of noble lineage also received training in religion , politics , or history by the priests . To achieve adult status , a boy had to capture his first prisoner . Aztec warriors could move up in ranking by capturing enemies . After having done 20 or more great deeds ( capturing enemies ) , they were eligible to become either a jaguar or eagle Aztec warrior knight . Weaponry and battledress . The warriors used a number of weapons , including an " atlatl " , bows , spear s and dagger s . The Aztec blades were made by setting obsidian within wood . The stone was sharper than steel but quickly lost its edge . Firestones were flung at enemies using slings made of wool . Most Aztec weapons were intended to stun and capture opponents rather than to kill them . The uniform of Eagle warriors signified both courage on the battlefield and physical strength . The Aztecs wore a lightweight close - fitting breastplate which suited the Mesoamerica n climate . Their shields were round , brightly coloured and decorated with feathers . A warrior ' s legs would be covered with leather strips , an archaic version of greave s . As headgear , Eagle warriors wore the heads of eagles , including an open beak , and used eagle feathers as adornments . Their slings were likely made from maguey fiber either a type of ixtle from one of the agave type maguey plants such as henequen ( Agave fourcroydes ) .