Aztec Gods and Goddesses

Religion was extremely important in Aztec life. They worshipped many gods and goddesses, each of whom ruled one or more human activities or aspects of nature. The people had many agricultural gods because their culture was based heavily on farming; also they included natural elements and ancestor heroes. They believed that the balance of the natural world, the processes that ma!e life possible li!e the rain or solar energy and that the destiny of people depended on the will of these gods. "hile some deities were benevolent, others had terrifying characteristics. The Aztecs thought that the power of the gods should be ac!nowledged and than!s given to them, in the form of gifts so as to avoid the catastrophes that their rage or indifference could cause. #or this reason, the monumental ceremonial centers were built and there were so many religious rites. The existence of the gods and their goodwill were maintained by offering up the most valuable human possession, life. This then, was the origin of human sacrifice and the ritual of bearing intense physical pain, which believers intentionally caused themselves.

Deity Impersonation An important aspect of Aztec ritual was the impersonation of deities. $riests or otherwise specially elected individuals would be dressed up to achieve the li!eness of a specific deity. A person with the honorable charge of impersonating a god was called %ixiptlatli% and was venerated as an actual physical manifestation of the god until the inevitable end when the god&s li!eness had to be !illed as the ultimate sacrifice under great circumstance and festivities.

Aztec Gods 'enteotl

'orn god. (on of Tlazolteotl and husband of )ochi*uetzal.

'halchiuhtlicue

+n Aztec mythology, 'halchiuhtlicue ,also 'halciuhtlicue, or 'halcihuitlicue,%(he of the .ade (!irt%- was the goddess of la!es and streams. (he is also a patroness of birth and plays a part in Aztec baptisms. +n the myth of the five suns, she had dominion over the fourth world, which was destroyed in a great flood. (he also presides over the day / (erpent and the trecena of 0 Reed.1er husband was Tlaloc and with him, she was the mother of Tecciztecatl and ruler over Tlalocan. +n her a*uatic aspect, she was !nown as Acuecucyoticihuati, goddess of oceans, rivers and any other running water, as well as the patron of women in labor. (he was also said to be the wife of )iuhtecuhtli. (he is sometimes associated with a rain goddess, 2atlalcueitl. +n art, 'halciuhtlicue was illustrated wearing a green s!irt and with short blac! vertical lines on the lower part of her face. +n some scenes babies may be seen in a stream of water issuing from her s!irts. (ometimes she is symbolized by a river with a heavily laden pric!ly pear tree growing on one ban!. (he is depicted in several central 2exican manuscripts, including the $re 'olumbian 'odex 3orgia on plates 00 and 4/ and in the 04th century 'odex 3orbonicus on page / and 'odex Rios on page 05. "hen sculpted, she is often carved from green stone as befits her name.

'hantico

+n Aztec mythology, 'hantico ,%she who dwells in the house%- was the goddess of fires in the family hearth and volcanoes. (he bro!e a fast by eating papri!a with roasted fish, and was turned into a dog by Tonacatecuhtli. (he also wears a crown of poisonous cactus spi!es, and ta!es the form of a red serpent.

'hicomecoatl

+n Aztec mythology, 'hicomecoatl ,%(even (erpent%, also the name of a day of the Aztec calendar- was a goddess of food and produce, especially maize and, by extension, a goddess of fertility. 6very (eptember, she received a sacrifice of young girl, decapitated. The sacrifice&s blood was poured on a statue of 'hicmecoatl and her s!in was worn by a priest. (he was thought of as a female counterpart to 'enteotl and was also called )ilonen ,%the hairy one%, which referred to the hairs on unshuc!ed maize-, who was married to Tezcatlipoca. (he often appeared with attributes of 'halchiuhtlicue, such as her headdress and the short lines rubbing down her chee!s. (he is usually distinguished by being shown carrying ears of maize. (he is shown in three different forms7

As a young girl carrying flowers As a woman who brings death with her embraces As a mother who uses the sun as a shield

'ihuacoatl

+n Aztec mythology, 'ihuacoatl ,%sna!e woman%; also 'hihucoatl, 'iucoatl- was one of a number of motherhood and fertility goddesses. ,(ee also +lamatecuhtli, Teteoinnan, Tlazolteotl, and Toci.'ihuacoatl was especially associated with midwives, and with the sweatbaths where midwives practiced. (he is paired with 8uilaztli and was considered a protectress of 'halmeca and patroness of 'ulhuacan. (he helped 8uetzalcoatl create the current race of humanity by grinding up bones from the previous ages, and mixing it with his blood. (he is also the mother of 2ixcoatl, who she abandoned at a crossroads. Tradition says that she often returns there to weep for her lost son, only to find a sacrificial !nife. Although she was sometimes depicted as a young woman, similar to )ochi*uetzal, she is more often shown as a fierce s!ull faced old woman carrying the spears and shield of a warrior. 'hildbirth was sometimes compared to warfare and the women who died in childbirth were honored as fallen warriors. Their spirits, the 'ihuateteo, were depicted with s!eletal faces li!e 'ihuacoatl. 9i!e her, the 'ihuateteo are thought to haunt crossroads at night to steal children.

'ihuacoatl was also a noble title among the Aztecs, given to the secondary ruler of Tenochtitlan who was responsible for the day to day affairs of the capital city. Tlacaelel served as 'ihuacoatl under four Aztec !ings ,Tlatoanis- during the 0/th century. As 'ihuacoatl he counselled the ruler and personally too! charge of the military and public sacrifices.

'oatlicue

'oatlicue, also !nown as Teteoinan ,also transcribed Teteo +nan- ,%The 2other of Gods%-, is the Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon, stars, and 1uitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war. (he is also !nown as Toci, ,%:ur Grandmother%-, and 'ihuacoatl, ,%The 9ady of the serpent%-, the patron of women who die in childbirth. The word %'oatlicue% is ;ahuatl for %the one with the s!irt of serpents%. (he is referred to by the epithets %2other Goddess of the 6arth who gives birth to all celestial things%, %Goddess of #ire and #ertility%, %Goddess of 9ife, <eath and Rebirth% and %2other of the (outhern (tars%. (he is represented as a woman wearing a s!irt of writhing sna!es and a nec!lace made of human hearts, hands and s!ulls. 1er feet and hands are adorned with claws ,for digging graves- and her breasts are depicted as hanging flaccid from

nursing. 'oatlicue !eeps on her chest the hands, hearts and s!ulls of her children so they can be purified in their mother&s chest. Almost all representation of this goddess depict her deadly side, because 6arth, as well as loving mother, is the insatiable monster that consumes everything that lives. (he represents the devouring mother, in whom both the womb and the grave exist. According to the legend, she was magically impregnated while still a virgin by a ball of feathers that fell on her while she was sweeping a temple. (he gave birth to 8uetzalcoatl and )olotl. +n a fit of wrath her four hundred children, who were encouraged by 'oyolxauh*ui ,her daughter-, decapitated her. The god 1uitzilopochtli afterward emerged from 'oatlicue&s womb fully grown and girded for battle and !illed many of his brothers and sisters, including decapitating 'oyolxauh*ui and throwing her head into the s!y to become the 2oon. +n a variation of this legend, 1uitzilopochtli himself is conceived by the ball of feathers incident and emerges from the womb in time to save his mother from harm. A massive sculpture !nown as the 'oatlicue (tone was discovered by the astronomer Antonio de 9eon y Gama in August of 05=> after an urban redevelopment program uncovered artifacts. (ix months later, the team discovered the massive Aztec sun stone. <e 9eon y Gama&s account of the discoveries was the first archeological wor! on $re 'olumbian 2exico.

'oyolxauh*ui

Aztec 2oon Goddess

Aztec (erpent 2oon Goddess

+n Aztec mythology, 'oyolxauh*ui ,%golden bells%- was a moon goddess. (he was a daughter of 'oatlicue and the ruler of the 'entzon 1uitznahuas, the star gods. (he was a powerful magician and led her siblings in an attac! on their mother, 'oatlicue, because she became pregnant in a shameful way ,by a ball of feathers-. 'oatlicue&s fetus, 1uitzilopochtli, sprang from her womb in full war armour and !illed 'oyolxauh*ui, along with many of the brothers and sisters. 1e cut off her limbs, then tossed her head into the s!y where it became the moon, so that his mother would be comforted in seeing her daughter in the s!y every night. A shield shaped stone frieze reflecting this story was found at the base of the stairs on the Templo 2ayor. +n this frieze, 'oyolxauh*ui is shown spread out on her side, with her head, arms and legs chopped away from her body. (he is distinguished by balls of eagle down in her hair, a bell symbol on her chee!, and an ear tab showing the 2exica year sign. As with images of her mother, she is shown with a s!ull tied to her belt. (cholars also believe that the decapitation and destruction of 'oyolxauh*ui is reflected in the pattern of warrior ritual sacrifice. #irst, captive&s hearts were cut out, then they were decapitated, their limbs chopped off, and finally their bodies were cast from the temple, to lie, perhaps, on the great 'oyolxauh*ui stone. 'oyolxauh*ui&s celestial associations are not limited to the moon. :ther scholars feel she should be understood as the Goddess of the 2il!y "ay, or be associated with patterns of stars associated with 1uitzilopochtli.

6hecatl

+n Aztec mythology, 6hecatl ,%wind%- was the god of wind, an aspect of 8uetzalcoatl. 1is breath moved the sun and pushed away rain. 1e fell in love with a human girl named 2ayahuel, and gave man!ind the ability to love so that she could return his passion. 1e had no !nown permanent physical form. The :ne "ho 'auses 2ovement of 2atter in the ?niverse7 @ohualli 6hecatl referring to :ur 'reator as the 2over of 2atter in the universe, as :ur #ather.

1uehueteotl

1uehueteotl ,%:ld god%; aged god in ;ahuatl- is a 2esoamerican deity figuring in the pantheons of pre 'olumbian cultures, particularly in Aztec mythology and others of the 'entral 2exico region. 1e is also sometimes called ?eueteotl. Although !nown mostly in the cultures of that region, images and iconography depicting 1uehueteotl have been found at other archaeological sites across 2esoamerica, such as in the Gulf region, western 2exico, $rotoclassic era sites in the Guatemalan highlands such as AaminalBuyu and 9ate $ostclassic sites on the northern @ucatan $eninsula. 1uehueteotl is fre*uently considered to overlap with, or be another aspect of, a central 2exicanCAztec deity associated with fire, )iuhtecuhtli. +n particular, the #lorentine 'odex identifies 1uehueteotl as an alternative epithet for )iutecuhtli, and conse*uently that deity is sometimes referred to as )iutecuhtli 1uehueteotl. 1owever, 1uehueteotl is characteristically depicted as an aged or even decrepit being, whereas )iutecuhtli&s appearance is much more youthful and vigorous, and he has a mar!ed association with rulership and ,youthful- warriors.

1uitzilopochtli

1uitzilopochtli&s temple ,next to that of Tlaloc- on the 2ain $yramid was the focus of fearsome sacrifices of prisoners captured by Aztec warriors. Dictims& heads were strung as trophies on a great rac!, the Tzompantli, erected in the precinct below. God of "ar 9ord of the (outh The @oung "arrior 9ord of the <ay The 3lue Tezcatliopoca of the (outh $atron God of the 2exica. Anown metaphorically as %The 3lue 1eron 3ird%, %The 9ucid 2acaw%, and %The 6agle%. The derivation of his name may have come from the ancient 'hichimeca %Tetzauhteotl%, possibly meaning %:men God%. 1e is considered an incarnation of the sun and struggles with the forces of night to !eep man!ind alive. :nly to have found a place of maBor worship among the Aztec peoples. 1uitzilopochtli is credited with inducing the Aztecs to migrate from their homeland in %Aztlan% and begin the long wanderings which brought their tribe to the 2exico Dalley. According to Aztec legend, 'oatlicue, goddess of the earth had given birth to the moon and stars. The moon, 'oyolxauh*ui, and the stars called, 'entzonhuitznahuac, became Bealous of 'oatlicue&s pregnancy with 1uitzilopochtli. <uring his birth, 1uitzilopochtli used the %serpent of fire% and the sun&s rays to defeat the moon and stars. 6very day the battle continues between day and night. The 2exica saw the sunrise as a daily victory for this deity over the forces of dar!ness. 1uitzilopochtli can only be fed by 'halchihuatl, or the blood of sacrifice, to sustain him in his daily battle. 1e resides in the seventh heaven of Aztec mythology. The seventh heaven is represented as blue. 1is temple on the great $yramid in Tenochtitlan was called 9ihuicatl )oxou*ui, or %3lue 1eaven%. :ver

E>,>>> victims are thought to have been ritually !illed at the opening of his great temple in Tenochtitlan during a four day period. <uran relates that the great temple contained a wooden statue carved to loo! li!e a man sitting on a blue wood bench. A serpent pole extended from each corner to give the appearance of the bench as a litter. :n his head was placed a headdress in the shape of a bird&s bea!. A curtain was always hung in front of the image to indicate reverence. Tlacaelel, the Aztec power bro!er, is thought to have propelled this god into the place of importance that 1uitzilopochtli held, some suggest even re writing 2exican history. 1uitzilopochtli&s creation may have come from the ancient 2exica god %:pochtli%, the 9eft 1anded :ne, and a leading old 'hichimec god of weapons and water. 1e was called %1e "ho <ivides the "aters%, and was principal in worship in the 1uitzilopochco area and it&s famous waters. :pochtli is thought to have been worshipped in ancient Aztlan. 1uitzilopochtli is said to be a representation of Tezcatlipoca in midsummer as the high sun in the southern s!y. 1is name may have derived with his association with the color blue as when staring at the sun, spots of blue are seen by the eyes after loo!ing away. 1is association with %on the left%, was because when facing in the direction of the sun&s path, east to west, the sun passed on the left. 1uitzilopochtli was the most celebrated of the 2exican deities and came to embody the aspirations and accomplishments of the Aztec. 1is cult could have been considered the %state cult% and was a focus of the powerful economic and political system. Also !nown as %The $ortentous :ne%, as he directed the 2exica on their nomadic tre! into the Dalley of 2exico through a series of signs and omens. +t was 1uitzilopochtli who sent the eagle to perch on the nopal cactus to indicate the site of the 2exica&s final resting place. 1is elevation to the ran! of a maBor deity coincided with the formation of the triple alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. At this formation of the alliance his recognition as the god of war was complete and total. As the power of Tenochtitlan grew his image was incorporated into the new lands and regions coming under 2exica control and he assumed new prominence and attributes even to the point of usurping the more traditional sun god, Tonatiuh. 1is main temple in the great temple of Tenochtitlan, ,the Temple 2ayor-, was set alongside Tlaloc, god of rain, the symbolism of these two deities elevated above all others was a reflection of the economic status of the 2exica empire, ,agriculture and war tribute-. :f interest many pictures and statues have survived of Tlaloc and other maBor deities but relatively few of 1uitzilopochtli.

+mages of 1uitzilopochtli may be found in the 'odex 3orbonicus in which he is depicted standing in front of a small temple in his honor, in the 'odex Telleriano Remensis, in his capacity as symbol of the month of $an*uetzaliztli, and in a dual painting with $aynal, ,messenger god-, in (ahagun&s $rimeros 2emoriales. 1is image further adorns the 'odex 3oturini in his guidance of the 2exica on their wanderings. +n the 'odex Azcatitlan he is represented as a combination hummingbird and serpent tail being carried in what might be thought of as a bac!pac!. +n the 'odex #lorentine his birth is recorded as well as his famous battle with the stars. +n all painted images his adornments are different, some with a shield of tur*uoise mosaic, others with a shield of white eagle feathers. The central image in all drawings is that of a warrior and a leader. 1e is often depicted as a seed dough image or %teixiptla% which was often made and prized during feasts. Although 1uitzilopochtli was worshipped greatly during the entire 2exica year he was of particular importance during the feast of Toxcatl, <ry Thing, Tlaxochimaco, Giving of #lowers, Teotleco, Arrival of Gods, and $an*uetzaliztli, Raising of 3anners. The feast honoring the raising of banners is generally thought to be his maBor yearly feast. ;owhere was 1uitzilopochtli more honored than in his main temple atop the great pyramid in Tenochtitlan in the Temple 2ayor. 1is main cult statue stood in the southernmost corner of the twin shrines to him and Tlaloc. The shrine to this deity is described in detail by <uran as well as accounts by several of the soldiers with 'ortes, namely Andres de Tapia and 3ernal <iaz as well as 'ortes himself. <uran claims to describe the statue based on reports from native informants and from direct interviews with surviving con*uistadors. 1e describes the image as a wooden statue carved to loo! li!e a man seated on a blue wooden bench in the form of a liter. The liter poles contained images of serpents long enough to be carried on the shoulder of men. The bench was in the traditional 1uitzilopochtli %s!y blue% color. The image itself had a blue forehead with a blue band reaching from ear to ear also blue. The image had a headdress shaped li!e a hummingbird bea! made of gold. The feathers adorning the headdress were a beautiful green. +n his left hand he held a shield, white, with five bunches of white feathers in the form of a cross. #our arrows extended from the handle of the shield. +n his right hand he held a staff in the image of a serpent which was also blue. Gold bracelets were on his wrists and he wore blue foot sandals. This image was covered from view with a type of curtain adorned with Bewels and gold. 3ernal <iaz also relates an account and it is certainly worth reading. 1uitzilopochtli shared the top of the great temple with Tlaloc in Texcoco as well as in Tenochtitlan and is described in detail in $omar&s boo!. $omar&s

1uitzilopochtli was an image of a standing young man, made from wood adorned with a cloa! of rich feathers and wearing an ornate nec!lace of Bade and tur*uoise surrounded by golden bells. 1is body paint was blue with a blue striped face. 1is hair was of eagle feathers and had a headdress of *uetzal ,F4- feathers. :h his shoulder was a form of a hummingbird&s head. 1is legs were adorned and decorated with gold bells. +n his hand was held a large spear, a spearthrower, and a feathered shield covered with a lattice wor! of gold stripes. There was no greater worshipped image to the 2exica and the stone idol that was atop the pyramid in Tenochtitlan that was removed under the eyes of 'ortes. The idol was entrusted to a man called Tlatolatl. Tlatolatl successfully was able to hide this image of 1uitzilopochtli as was uncovered during an investigation by the 3ishop Gummaraga during the 0/H>&s. The statue has never been found and is probably resting and waiting today in a cave somewhere in northern 2exico. 9isted in the 'odex 3oturini, the sacred bundle of 1uitzilopochtli carried during the wandering years was born by four %bearers%, named Tezacoatl, ,2irror (erpent-, 'himalma, ,(hield 1and-, Apanecatl, ,"ater 1eaddress-, and 'uauhcoatl, ,6agle (erpent-. The 'odex Azcatitlan shows only two god bearers. <uran agrees that there were four bearers but does not name them. .uan de Tor*uemada in his %2onar*uia indiana also confers the four god bearers. 1ernando Alvarado Tezozomoc !eeps the bearer 'uauhcoatl but replaces the other three with 8uauhtlon*uetz*ue, Axoloa, and :cocaltzin. To further confuse this issue the 'ronica 2exicayotl replaces 'uauhcoatl, ,6agle (erpent-, with +ztamixcoatzin, ,"hite 'loud (erpent-.

+tzpalotl A goddess of Agriculture representing famine and death shown as Dulture. :bsidian 3utterfly. 3eautiful, demonic, armed with the claws of a Baguar. The female counterpart of +tzcoliuh*ui.

+xtlilton The god of 2edicine, 1ealing, #easting, and Games.

2acuilxochitl

+n Aztec mythology, )ochipilli was the god of love, games, beauty, dance, flowers, maize, and song. 1is name contains the ;ahuatl words xochitl ,%flower%and pilli ,either %prince% or %child%-, and hence means %flower prince%. 1e is also referred to as 2acuilxochitl, which means %five flowers%. 1is wife was 2ayahuel and his twin sister was )ochi*uetzal. As one of the gods responsible for fertility and agricultural produce, he was associated with Tlaloc, god of rains, and 'inteotl, god of maize.+n the mid 0I>>s, a 04th century Aztec statue of )ochipilli was unearthed on the side of the volcano $opocatepetl near Tlamanalco. The statue is of a single figure seated upon a temple li!e base. 3oth the statue and the base upon which it sits are covered in carvings of sacred and psychoactive plants including mushrooms ,$silocybe aztecorum-, tobacco ,;icotiana tabacum-, morning glory ,Turbina corymbosa-, sinicuichi ,1eimia salicifolia-, possibly cacahuaxochitl ,8uararibea funebris-, and one unidentified flower. The figure himself sits cross legged on the base, head tilted up, eyes open, Baw tensed, with his mouth half open. The statue is currently housed in the 2useo ;acional de Antropologia in 2exico 'ity. +t has been suggested by "asson, (chultes, and 1ofmann that )ochipilli represents a figure in the throes of entheogenic ecstasy. The position and expression of the body, in combination with the very clear representations of

hallucinogenic plants which are !nown to have been used in sacred contexts by the Aztec support this interpretation. "asson says in The "ondrous 2ushroom of the statue of )ochipilli7%1e is absorbed in temicxoch, &the flowery dream&, as the ;ahua say in describing the awesome experience that follows the ingestion of an entheogen. + can thin! of nothing li!e it in the long and rich history of 6uropean art7 )ochipilli absorbed in temicxoch.%

2etztli

+n Aztec mythology, 2etztli ,also 2eztli, 2etzi- was a god of the moon, the night, and farmers. 1e was probably the same deity as @ohaulticetl and 'oyolxauh*ui and the male moon god Tecciztecatl; li!e the latter, he feared the sun because he feared its fire.

2ictlan

+n Aztec mythology, 2ictlan was the lowest ,ninth- level of the underworld, located far to the north. 6xcept for warriors who died in battle, people who died when hit by lightning and women who died in childbirth, people went to 2ictlan after death. The Bourney was difficult and too! four years, but the dead were aided by the psychopomp, )olotl. The !ing of 2ictlan was 2ictlantecuhtli. The *ueen was 2ictecacihuatl. :ther deities in 2ictlan included 'iucoatl ,who commanded 2ictlan spirits called 'ihuateteo-, Acolmiztli, 'halmecacihuilt, 'halmecatl and Acolnahuacatl.

2ictecacihuatl

+n Aztec mythology, 2ictecacihuatl was the 8ueen of 2ictlan, the underworld, and wife of 2ictlantecuhtli. 1er purpose is to !eep watch over the bones of the dead. (he presides over the festivals of the dead ,which evolved into the modern <ay of the <ead- and is !nown as the 9ady of the <ead, since it is believed she died at birth.1er cult is sometimes held to persist in the common 2exican worship of (anta 2uerte.

2ictlantecuhtle The god of the dead; he is a guardian and spirit guide.

2ixcoatl

2ixcoatl, meaning &cloud serpent,& was the god of the hunt and identified with the 2il!y "ay, the stars, and the heavens in several 2esoamerican cultures. 1e was the patron deity of the :tomi, the 'hichimecs, and several groups that claimed decent from the 'hichimecs. "hile 2ixcoatl was part of the Aztec pantheon, his role was less important than that of 1uitzilopochtli, who was their central deity. ?nder the name of 'amaxtli, 2ixcoatl was worshipped as the cental deity of 1ueBotzingo and Tlaxcala. 2ixcoatl is represented with a blac! mas! over his eyes and distinctive red and white &candy cane stripes& painted on his body. These features are shared with Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, the 9ord of the <awn, god of the morning star. ?nli!e Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, 2ixcoatl can usually be distinguished by his hunting gear, which included a bow and arrows, and a net or bas!et for carrying dead game. 2ixcoatl was one of four children of Tonacatecuhtli, meaning %9ord of :ur (ustenance,% an aged creator god, and 'ihuacoatl, a fertility goddess and the patroness of midwives. (ometimes 2ixcoatl was worshipped as the %Red% aspect of the god Tezcatlipoca, the %(mo!ing 2irror,% who was the god of sorcerers, rulers, and warriors. +n one story, Tezcatlipoca transformed himself into 2ixcoatl and invented the fire drill by revolving the heavens around their axes, bringing fire to humanity. Along with this cosmic fire drill, 2ixcoatl was the first to stri!e fire with flint. These events made 2ixcoatl a god of fire, along with war, and the hunt. 2ixcoatl was the father of F>> sons, collectively !nown as the 'entzon 1uitznahua, who ended up having their hearts eaten by 1uitzilopochtli. The 'entzon 1uitznahua met their demise when they, and their sister 'oyolxauh*ui, after finding their mother 'oatlicue pregnant, conspired to !ill her. 1owever, as they attac!ed she gave birth to a fully formed and armed 1uitzilopochtli, who proceeded to !ill his half siblings. 2ixcoatl was also thought of as being the father of another important deity, 8uetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. 8uecholli, the 0Fth veintena, the E> day Aztec month, was dedicated to 2ixcoatl. The celebration for this month consisted of hunting and feasting in the

countryside. The hunters would ta!e the form of 2ixcoatl by dressing li!e him, !indling a new fire to roast the hunted game. Along with these practices, a man and woman would be sacrificed to 2ixcoatl at his temple. The female would be slaughtered as would be a wild animal that is, by bashing her head against a roc! four times. (ubse*uently, her throat would be cut, and she would be decapitated. The male victim would display her head to the crowd before he, himself, would be sacrificed in the familiar Aztec way7 heart extrusion. Along with the divine 2ixcoatl, some believe there was a real figure !nown as 2ixcoatl. +t is thought he was a 'hichimec leader during the Toltec period. +t is not clear how much of the myth is based on this person if he really did live.

;anauatzin

+n Aztec mythology, the god ;anauatl ,or ;anauatzin, the suffix tzin implies respect or familiarity-, the most humble of the gods, sacrificed himself in fire so that it would continue to shine on 6arth as the sun, thus becoming the sun god. ;anahuatl means %full of sores%. +n the borgia codex, ;anahuatl is represented as a man emerging form a fire, originally this was interpreted as an illustration of canibalism. The Aztecs had several different myths about the creation, and nanahualt participate in several. +n the legend of 8uetzalcoatl, ;anauatl helps 8uetzalcoatl to obtain the first grains which will be the food of human!ind. +n Aztec mythology, the universe is not permanent or everlasting, but subBect to death li!e any living creature. 1owever, even as it died, the universe would be reborn again into a new age, or %(un.% ;anauatl is best !nown in the %9egend of the #ifth (un,% recopilated by (ahagun. +n this legend, which is the basis for most nahuatl myths, there has been four creations, in each one, one god has ta!en the toil of being the sun7 8uetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc, and 6hecatl. 6ach age inevitably ended because the gods

were not satisfied with the men they had created. #inally 8uetzalcoatl, retrieves the sacred bones of their ancestors, mixed with corn and his own blood, manages to ma!e acceptable human beings. 3ut no other god wants the tas! of being the sun. The gods decided that the future and possibly last sun, has to offer his life. #inally, two gods are chosen7 Tecciztecatl and ;anauatl, the former because he is wealthy and the latter because he is humble. Tecciztecatl is proud, and sees an opportunity to gain immortality. ;anauatl accepts because he sees becoming the sun as his duty. They are purified. Tecciztecatl offers rich presents, and coral instead of blood. ;anauatl offers his blood, and ma!es penitence. The gods ma!e a big fire, which burns for four days. "hen Tecciztecatl tries to Bump into the fire, he is afraid and fails four times, because the heat is so strong. 3ecause of this, the gods as! for ;anauatl. 1e closes his eyes to control his fear, and Bumps. "hen Tecciztecatl sees that ;anauatl has Bumped, he feels wounded in his pride and Bumps after him. ;othing happens at first. 3ut eventually two suns appear in the s!y. The gods are angry, because Tecciztecatl was still following ;anauatl, and they are glowing exactly the same; so one of the gods ta!es a rabbit and throws it in the face of Tecciztecatl. 1e loses his brilliance, and the rabbit is mar!ed on his face. (o he became the moon, and the moon still has the mar! of a rabbit. 3ut still, the sun does not move. The gods accept they need to die, so the men can live. The god 6hecatl sacrifices all the gods, and then with a powerful wind ma!es the sun begin to move.2en need to repay the gods their sacrifice.An important aspect of this legend is the death of the gods. The Aztec gods have no real earthly power, because they are dead, and only exist in the spiritual world, they even have to use a magic mirror made of obsidian to see the world all of them, except 6hecatl. 6hecatl, the wind, becomes the symbol of the forces of nature7 we can&t see him, but we can feel his power.

:cocaltzin 1e was considered by some, to be one of four Gods who were the bearers of 1uitzilopochtli.

:macatl

+n Aztec mythology, :macatl ,%two reeds%, %:me% %Acatl%- was a god of feasting, holidays and happiness, and an aspect of Tezcatlipoca. 1e is represented as a blac! and white figure, s*uatting and eating. As a god worshipped primarily by the wealthy, he wore a crown and a flower decorated cloa!, and carried a sceptre. At his festivals, maize effigies of :macatl were eaten and ,allegedly- the participants held orgies to honor him. 1e was also !nown as Tezcalipoca, and Titlacauan. :macatl and 8uetzalcoatl were brothers.

:metecutliC:mecihuatl

:meteotl is the name of the dual god :metecutliC:mecihuatl in Aztec mythology. The suffix teotl originally was translated as god, but most translators now prefer lord since the concept is not e*uivalent to the 6uropean concept of God. (ome people translate teotl as energy, but this is not generally accepted. The literal translation of the name is %9ord Two%, 9eon $ortilla interprets this as %9ord of the <uality%. The origin of this god is from Toltec origin, and possibly could be traced to Teotihuacan. +n the ;ahuaCAztec tradition, :meteoltC:mecihualt is a dual god, male and female, who was the creator of 'emanahuatl. :meteotl&s male aspect is :metecutli, hisCher female aspect is :mecihuatl. (Che dwelled in and ruled over :meyocan ,%Two $lace%-, home of the gods.There were no temples dedicated to this god, but :meteotl is referred to in most of the Aztec poetry. :meteotl was also referred by other names7 Tlo*ue ;ahua*ue, %:wner of the ;ear and #ar%; 2oyocoyatzin, %The +nventor of 1imself%; +palnemohua, %The Giver of 9ife%.:metecuhtli ,%two lord%; also :meteoltlo*ue, :metecutli, Tlo*ue ;ahua*ue, 'itlatonac-, the male aspect, was a deity associated with fire, a creator deity and one of the highest gods in the pantheon, though he had no cult and was not actively worshipped.

:metochtli :metotchtli ,sometimes spelled :metochtli-, also !nown as %Two Rabbits% is a god of drun!enness in the Aztec pantheon. 1e is the leader of 'entzon Totchtli, the four hundred rabbit gods of drun!enness.

:pochtli +n Aztec mythology, :pochtli was a god of hunting and fishing.

$atecatl +n Aztec mythology, $atecatl was a god of healing and fertility, and the discoverer of peyote. "ith 2ayahuel, he was the father of the 'entzon Totochtin.

$aynal +n Aztec mythology, $aynal was the impersonator and messenger of 1uitzilopochtli. $aynal too! on his master&s attributes at official functions while 1uitzilopochtli was trapped in the underworld or otherwise unavailable.

8uetzalcoatl The #eathered (erpent

Tecciztecatl

+n Aztec mythology, Tecciztecatl ,%old moon god%; also Tecuciztecal, Tecuciztecatl- was a lunar deity, representing the old %man on the moon%. 1e could have been the sun god, but he feared the sun&s fire, so ;anahuatzin became the sun god and Tecciztecatl ,in the form of a rabbit- was promptly thrown into the moon. +n some depictions he carried a large, white seashell on his bac!, representing the moon itself; in others he had butterfly wings. 1e was a son of Tlaloc and 'halchiuhtlicue.

Teoyaom*ui +n Aztec mythology, Teoyaom*ui ,or Teoyaoim*uit, 1uahuantli- was the god of dead warriors, particularly those who had died in battle. 1e is a solar deity, the god of the (ixth 1our of the <ay.

Tepeyollotl

+n Aztec mythology, Tepeyollotl ,%heart of the mountains%; also Tepeyollotli- was the god of earth*ua!es, echoes and Baguars. 1e is the god of the 6ighth 1our of the ;ight, and is depicted as a Baguar leaping towards the sun. 1e may be the same as 2ictlantecutli, Tlaltecuhtli and Teoyaom*ui.

Tepoztecatl

+n Aztec mythology, Tepoztecatl ,or Tezcatzontecatl- was the god of pul*ue, of drun!enness and fertility. 1e is a consorts of 2ayahuel, who is a mas! avatar of )ochi*uetzal.According to the myth, Tepoztecatl was one of the four hundred children of 2ayahuel and the god $antecatl. As a deity of pul*ue, Tepoztecatl was associated with fertility cults and belong to the Tlalo*ue ,see Tlaloc-.+n the Tepozteco mountain is the Tepozteco archaeological site, named after Tepoztecatl. The site was, thus, a sacred place for pilgrims from as far as 'hiapas and Guatemala. This site has a monument for Tepoztecatl, called the Tepozteco 1ouse, a pyramid built on a platform =./ meters high.

Tezcatlipoca

+n ;ahuatl mythology, Tezcatlipoca ,tes cat lee poh !a- or %smo!ing mirror% was the god of the night, the north, temptation, sorcery, beauty and war. 1e was !nown by other descriptive names, such as Titlacauan ,"e 1is (laves-, +palnemoani ,1e by whom we live-, ;ecocyaotl ,(ower of <iscord on 3oth (ides- and Tlo*ue ;ahua*ue ,9ord of the ;ear and ;igh- and @ohualli 6ecatl ,;ight, "ind-. "hen depicted he was usually drawn with a blac! stripe painted across his face, and is usually shown with his right foot replaced with a mirror made of obsidian or hematite. (ometimes the mirror was shown on his chest. 1e would carry four arrows in his right hand to punish the sins of man with. 1is hair was blac! and in the style of a warrior, as well as carrying a shield and weapon. 1e wore twenty gold bells on his an!les, and on his right foot he wore a deer hoof, representing his swiftness and agility. 1e appears on the first page of the 'odex 3orgia carrying the E> day signs of the calendar; in the 'odex 'ospi he is shown as a spirit of dar!ness, as well as in the 'odex 9aud and the <resden 'odex.

According to the Aztecs, he was also the god of discord and deceit as well as the god of robbers, but he was also the god of rulers, warriors and sorcery. 1e was associated with the notion of destiny or fate and with the Baguar, and was !nown for inciting wars between peoples. 1e owned a mirror ,+tlachiaya*ue %$lace #rom "hich 1e "atches%- that gave off smo!e, !illing his enemies; he saw everything and he punished wrong doers with illness and poverty, and rewarded good people with wealth and fame. 1e was the antithesis, rival, and eventually the twin of 8uetzalcoatl. +t was thought then when a baby was conceived, it was placed there by Tezcatlipoca to decided it&s fate; the day you were born on prophesised the success or failure in your future. 1ow the child loo!ed was also attributed to the whim of Tezcatlipoca. +t was thought that he would appear at night as a shrouded corpse, a bundle of ashes or a headless man with his chest and stomach slit open, and anyone who was brave enough to rip out his heart could demand a reward for returning it. Attributes of both Tezcatlipoca and 8uetzalcoatl originally came from pre Aztec traditions of the :lmecs and the Toltecs. The Aztecs assimilated them in their religion, and the two deities were e*uated and considered twin gods. They were both e*ual and opposed. Thus Tezcatlipoca was called %3lac! Tezcatlipoca%, and 8uetzalcoatl %"hite Tezcatlipoca%. 2ixcoatl was sometimes added to this complex as %Red Tezcatlipoca.% :macatl, Titlacahuan and Tezcatlanextia were also considered aspects of Tezcatlipoca; the four Tezcatlipocas were the sons of :metecuhtli and :mecihuatl, lord and lady of the duality, and were the creators of all the other gods, as well as the world and man.

Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli

+n Aztec mythology, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli ,%lord of the star of the dawn%; also spelled %Tlahuizcalpantecutli% or %Tlahuixcalpantecuhtli%- was the personification of the morning star, which is the planet Denus as seen in the morning. 1is brother )olotl was the planet Denus as the evening star. Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli was a manifestation of 8uetzalcoatl.

Tlaloc

Tlaloc, also !nown as ;uhualpilli, was, in Aztec belief, the god of rain and fertility. 1e was greatly feared among the Aztecs, who drowned children to appease him. They believed that Tlaloc was responsible for both floods and droughts, and that he had been created by the other gods. 1e is commonly depicted as a goggle eyed blue being with fangs. 1uman sacrifices were often made in his honor, usually children. 3efore the victims were actually sacrificed, their tears were collected in a ceremonial bowl, to serve as an offering. Tlaloc was also worshipped in pre Aztec times, by the Teotihuacan and Toltec civilizations. Tlaloc was first married to )ochi*uetzal, a goddess of flowers, but then Tezcatlipoca !idnapped her. 1e later married the goddess 'halchiuhtlicue, %(he of the .ade (!irt%. +n Aztec mythic cosmography, Tlaloc ruled the fourth layer of the &?pper "orld%, or heavens, which is called Tlalocan ,%place of Tlaloc%- in several Aztec codices, such as the Daticanus A and #lorentine codices. <escribed as a place of unending (pringtime and a paradise of green plants, Tlalocan was the destination in the afterlife for those who died violently from phenomena associated with water, such lightning, drowning and water borne diseases. "ith 'halchiuhtlicue, he was the father of Tecciztecatl. 1e had an older sister named 1uixtocihuatl. 1e ruled over the third of the five worlds in Aztec belief. +n (alvadoran mythology, he was also the grandfather of 'ipitio. Tlalocan was the earthly paradise of Tlaloc, located in the 6ast, the place of 9ight and 9ife. +t was where the souls of those !illed by lightning, dropsy, s!in diseases, and those sacrificed to Tlaloc went. The Rain God God of Degetation Ruler of the (outh. +n ancient 'hichimec times may have been worshipped under the name of Tlalocateuctli, meaning %9and lier

9ord%. Tlalocateuctli was considered by Alcaron to be a metaphor for the owner of a sown field. Anown to the :lmec as %6pcoatl%, meaning (eashell (erpent. There is speculation that this deity originated with the :lmec. Anown to the 2aya as 'hac, to the Totonacs as TaBin, to the 2ixtecs as Tzahui, to the Gapotecs as 'ociBo and throughout 2esoamerica. A water god probably one of the oldest gods worshiped as a result of the importance of rain for crop production. 'alled 'hoc by the 2aya and 'ociBo by the 2ixtecs, the principal worship god of the :lmec culture. Tlaloc was not a creator God but one created by other Gods. 1is first wife )ochi*uetzal, Goddess of flowers and love , was stolen from him by Tezcatlipoca. 1is second wife was the Goddess 2atlolcueitl, %The 9ady of the Green (!irts%, an ancient name for the mountain !nown as 2alinche, located in Tlaxcala. Although a beneficent god Tlaloc certainly had the power to unleash floods, lightning and drought when angry. To please him children were sacrificed to him as well as prisoners dressed in his image. +t is said that the more the babies and children cried the more Tlaloc was pleased. <uring the sacrifice the tears of the screaming children were seen as representations of falling rain, the more the children cried, the better the rain season. Tlaloc is easily identified by his characteristic mas! giving the impression of eyeglasses and a mustache. 3lue is his dominant color and of his mas!. 1is body and face are often painted blac!, and water is often depicted dripping from his hands. The name Tlaloc, derives from the term %tlalli%, meaning earth, with the suffix %oc%, meaning something that is on the surface. Townsend alludes to the fight of clouds welling up in canyons and hovering around mountaintop in the rainy season to explain this metaphor. Those who died from drowning, lightning or things thought to be associated with water went to Tlacocan, the paradise of Tlaloc located in the (outh and was !nown as the place of fertility. 1is home in Tenochtitlan was next to the same temple of the venerated 1uitzilopochtli, where a special chamber was built. 1is statue was made of stone in the shape of a horrible monster. The image was dressed in red with a green feather headdress. A string of green beads called chalchihuitl, %Bade%, hung from his nec!. 1is ears, arms, and an!les were adorned with bracelets of precious stones. Apparently no other idols in the 2exica city were adorned with as many precious Bewels at Tlaloc. +n his right hand was a representation of a purple wooden thunderbolt, in his left hand was a leather bag filled with copal. The idol was placed upon a green cloth draped over a dais. 1is body was sculpted as a man and the face li!e a monster.

Also !nown as Tlalteuctli, ,6arth 9ord-. 2ay have been !nown as :ztoteotl, ,The God of 'aves-, who was principally worshipped in the 'halma area. +n the codex Daticanus, Tlaloc is depicted as living inside of a mountain. Anown by the :lmec as %6pcoatl%, or (eashell (erpent. An interesting ceremony to Tlaloc by his priests was for the priests to throw themselves into frigid la!e waters at midnight and imitate the sound and splashing of water birds to the point of exhaustion. This was apparently done Bust to please Tlaloc. +n another ritual a priest would climb a mountain na!ed,J0I- and painted blac!, carrying fir boughs and a conch trumpet. 1e would chew tobacco and periodically blow the horn. After piercing his ears and thighs with spines,J0=- to let blood,JE>-, he would retrace his steps stumblin The direction of the rains Tlaloc sent were also of importance. The western rain was red colored from the sunset. This rain represented the richness of autumn. The southern rain was a rich blend of rain and summer fertility and considered a , Tlaloc&s color. The eastern rain was a golden rain which fell lightly over the crops ma!ing the crops grow, a promise of life. The north rain was a hail and thunder message from Tlaloc often bringing destruction. (now and hail were thought of as representations of the bones of the past dead. The temple to Tlaloc, on 2t. Tlaloc, is approximately at the F>>> meter level with views of the twin volcanoes $opocatepetl and +xtaccihuatl and the entire valleys of $ueblo and 2exico. 2t. Tlaloc was located approximately twenty five miles due east of Tenochtitlan and directly north of the twin volcanoes. +n the (pring, at the height of the dry season, the leaders of Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, Tlacopan, and )ochimilco would ma!e a pilgrimage to the shrine to call for rain from within the mountain. "hile the 2exica leaders were conducting their ceremony, a large tree called %#ather%, or Tota, was erected near the great shrine to Tlaloc in Tenochtitlan and surrounded with small trees to symbolize a forest. An impersonator of 'halchiuhtlicue, Goddess of the sea and la!es, was selected to sit in the forest and symbolize the la!e. As the leaders were returning, the great tree was felled and rafted out to the $antitlan shrine, located in the center of the la!e, where a great fleet of canoes met the returning leaders. The impersonator was then sacrificed, her blood poured into the water of the la!e, Bewelry given to the water of the la!e, and the tree symbolically planted to indicate a renewal of life and growth. The tree was left to stand with the remains of trees planted in past years ceremonies. Attendants of Tlaloc7

Resided in the mountains, where rain and clouds are formed. ;ot deities themselves but close enough. 2ay be li!ened to devilish imps who served the rain god Tlaloc. The Tlalo*ue were worshiped in special ceremonies during the sixteenth month of the Aztec calendar, ,<ec. 00 <ec. H>-, !nown as Atemoztli, meaning %The <escent of "ater%. The Tlalo*ue were the bearers of the rattlestaff ,chicahualilizti-, %That "hich 2a!es Things (trong%. A signification of a male erect penis or a type of digging stic!. The Tlalo*ue numbered four and lived in the halls of the great palace of Tlaloc, Tlalocan, the terrestrial paradise, and represented the four directions. :n Tlaloc&s orders one of the Tlalo*ue would ta!e a particular Bug and pour it over the world, thunder was thought to be the sound of the Bugs brea!ing. The 2exica considered the Tlalo*ue to be brothers to the goddess of corn.

Tlazolteotl Goddess of 9icentiousness

Tlo*ue ;uha*ue

+n Aztec mythology, Tlo*uenahua*ue ,or Tlo*ue ;uha*ue- was a creator god or ruler, the creator of the first pair of humans, and the ruler of the first four ages of the world. 1e is primarily a god of mystery and the un!nown. ;o surviving depictions of him are !nown to exist.

Tonacatecuhtli +n Aztec mythology, Tonacatecuhtli ,%the being at the center%- was a fertility god. 1e organized the world into land and ocean at the creation of the world. :metecuhtli and :mecihuatl were the creators of the life, but he created them and the planet. 1e turned 'hantico into a dog for violating a fast and eating papri!a with roasted fish. 1is wife was Tonacacihuatl.

Tonatiuh

+n Aztec mythology, Tonatiuh was the sun god. The Aztec people considered him the leader of Tollan, their heaven. 1e was also !nown as the fifth sun, because the Aztecs believed that he was the sun that too! over when the fourth sun was expelled from the s!y. According to their cosmology, each sun was a god with its own cosmic era. According to the Aztecs, they were still in Tonatiuh&s era. According to the Aztec creation myth, the god demanded human sacrifice as tribute and without it would refuse to move through the s!y. +t is said that E>,>>> people were sacrificed each year to Tonatiuh and other gods, though this number is thought to be inflated either by the Aztecs, who wanted to inspire fear in their enemies, or the (paniards, who wanted to vilify the Aztecs. The Aztecs were fascinated by the sun and carefully observed it, and had a solar calendar second only in accuracy to the 2ayans&. 2any of today&s remaining Aztec monuments have structures aligned with the sun. 1e was a sun god, and heavenly warrior; God of the (un represented by the eagle. $oor and ill, Tonatiuh cast himself into the flames, and being burnt up, was resurrected. <aily Tonatiuh repeats his passage across the heavens, down into dar!ness, and bac! again into the s!y. "ith him Tonatiuh carries all brave warriors who have died in battle and all brave women who have died in childbirth. The greatest heroes Tonatiuh carries with him to the greatest heights. to Tonatiuhican.

Tonantzin

%1onored grandmother,% was among the many names of the female earth deity.

Tzitzimime

+n 2exica mythology the Tzitzimime were once stars but were cast out to become lords of the dar! underworld, and were a danger both at night and especially during an eclipse. 6ach dawn and dus! they would battle the sun. The end of the Azteca fifty two year cycle a time of even greater anxiety for if the new fire was not successfully drilled, the terrifying Tzitzimime star demons would reassert their control over the world. +t was prophesied that these star demons would descend to earth and devour the few humans who survived the destruction of the 2exica world and universe when it ended in earth*ua!e and famine.

)ilonen

(he was the goddess of young maize. (he was a wife of Tezcatlipoca. 'alled &the hairy one& for the tassels of the corn.

)ipe Totec

+n Aztec mythology, )ipe Totec ,%our lord the flayed one%- was a life death rebirth deity, god of agriculture, the west, disease, spring, goldsmiths and the seasons. 1e flayed himself to give food to humanity, symbolic of the maize seed losing the outer layer of the seed before germination. "ithout his s!in, he was depicted as a golden god. Annually, slaves were selected as sacrifices to )ipe Totec. These slaves were carefully flayed to produce a nearly whole s!in which was then worn by the priests during the fertility rituals that followed the sacrifice. (ome accounts indicate that a thigh bone from the sacrifice was defleshed and used by the priest to touch spectators in a fertility blessing. $aintings and several clay figures have

been found which illustrate the flaying method and the appearance of priests wearing flayed s!ins.

)iuhtecuhtli

+n Aztec mythology, )iuhtecuhtli ,also 1uehueteotl, %old god%- was the personification of life after death, warmth in cold ,fire-, light in dar!ness and food during famine. 1e was usually depicted with a red or yellow face and a censer on his head. 1is wife was 'halchiuhtlicue.At the end of the Aztec century ,/E years-, the gods were thought to be able to end their covenant with humanity. #easts were held in honor of )iuhtecuhtli to !eep his favors, and human sacrifices were burned after removing their heart.

)ochi*uetzal

%$atroness of 6rotic 9ove% %Goddess of the #lowering 6arth%. 'elebrated during the %#arewell to the #lowers% festival signifying the coming of frost. This was a solemn festival. $eople would ma!e merry and smell flowers !nowing they were about to dry up and wither for the season. A feast in honor of the flowers would occur. )ochi*uetzal was also the divinity of painters, embroiders, weavers, silversmiths and sculptors. The image of this deity was of wood in the shape of a young woman. A gold ornament was placed over her mouth and a crown of red leather in the form of a braid was placed on her head. Green bright feathered decorated this headband in the shape of horns. (he was dressed in a blue tunic adorned with woven flowers made from delicate feather wor!. 1er arms were open as in the form of a woman dancing. 1er idol was placed on a tall alter and her attendants were the same as those who tended 1uitzilopochtli as her temple was small and had no specially assigned priests. This is one of the exceptions the Aztec made and were fond of sacrificing virgins to this goddess. The victim&s legs were crossed after cutting out their hearts and

then sent rolling down the steps of the temple. At the foot of the temple special priests too! the bodies of the sacrificed virgins to the Ayauhcalli, %the house of the mist%, which was a sort of cellar built especially for this sacrifice, where the bodies were !ept. A woman in the guise of )ochi*uetzal was ritually !illed and flayed and a priest wearing her s!in would sit at the foot of the temple while area craftsmen dressed as mon!eys, ocelots, dogs, coyotes, and Baguars would dance about her while she pretended to weave cloth. 6ach of the dancing craftsmen would carry in their hands a symbol of their craft, a painter his brush, etc. Also refereed to as $recious #eather #lower Goddess of (ong, <ance, and (exual $leasure. $atron of prostitutes. Goddess of Artistry and <elight. +n <uality she was also 2acuilxochitl, a male representation. God associated with maize and vegetation. Goddess of flowers, grains, and patroness of weavers. God of sculptors and embroiders. 8uail and incense were often offered to this god and depending on the devotion fasting of from E> I> days was common. $eople who were born on :ne #lower or (even #lower were pre destined to become good at these crafts and worship this god. (aid to have afflicted those who displeased her with boils. in legend she was ta!en to the underworld by )olotl and ravaged. (he also is said to have eaten forbidden fruit from an aphrodisiac tree and became the first female to submit to sexual temptation. (he was expelled from paradise and the tree split into two. (he transformed into +xnextli, %Ashes in 6yes%, a metaphor for being blinded by crying. 1er pain at not being able to loo! into the s!y that she once lived in is why men can not loo! directly into the sun. Goddess of flowers and romantic love depicted with flowers in her head dress and as a young married woman with a wrap around s!irt and a 8uech*uimitl, or highly decorated type of poncho. )ochi*uetzal&s flower was the marigold. Today in early ;ovember 2exico celebrates the day of the dead, or %All (ouls%, in which the ground is strewn with marigolds, combining old and new customs. (he may have been worshipped under the name Tonacacihuatl, meaning %(ustenance "oman%. "orshipped during the festivals of 2atlalcueyeh, 1uei $achtli, and 2acuilxochi*uetzal.

)ochi*uetzal

(he is a nature Goddess of beauty and is called the flower goddess. Goddess of birds, butterflies, song, dance and love. Also a protector of artisans, prostitutes, pregnant women and birth. 9i!e $ersephone, was !idnapped and ta!en from her husband, Tlaloc, to the underworld by Tezcatlipoca a lord of the underworld.

)olotl

+n Aztec and Toltec mythology, )olotl ,%The Animal%, 9ord of the 6vening (tar, 9ord of the ?nderworld- was the god of lightning and a psychopomp, which is to say that he was the one who aided the dead on their Bourney to 2ictlan, the afterlife. )olotl was also the god of fire and of bad luc!. 1e was the twin of 8uetzalcoatl, the pair being sons of the virgin 'oatlicue, and was the evil personification of Denus, the evening star. 1e guarded the sun when it went through the underworld at night. 1e also brought forth human!ind and fire from the underworld. +n art, )olotl was depicted as a s!eleton, a dog headed man %xolotl% can also mean %dog% in ;ahuatl, the Aztec language or a monster animal with reversed feet. 1e was also the patron of the ?lama game. 1e is identified with )ocotl as being the Aztec god of fire. The axolotl, a type of salamander native to 2exico, is not directly named after the god. +nstead, its name derives from the ;ahuatl words for water ,%atl%- and dog ,also %xolotl%-.)oloitzcuintle is the official name of the 2exican 1airless <og ,also !nown as $erro $elon 2exicano in (panish-, a canine species endemic to 'entral America dating bac! to $re 'olombian times. This is one of many native dogs species in the Americas and it is often confused with the $eruvian 1airless <og. The name )oloitcuintle ma!es reference to )olotl because, historically, one of this dog&s missions was to accompany the dead in their Bourney into eternity. +n spite of this prominent place in the mythology, the meat of the )oloitcuintle was very much part of the diet of some of the ancient peoples of the region.

@acatecuhtli

+n Aztec mythology, @acatecuhtli ,%1e "ho Goes 3efore%; alternately @iacatecuhtli- was the patron god of commerce and travelers, especially merchant travelers. 1is symbol is a bundle of staves.