Aztec Mythology
EloraM23 2010/11/11 02:57
EloraM23 2010/11/11 02:57
Introduction
A host of interesting Gods with completely unpronounceable names. The Aztecs must have possessed the most dextrous tongues in the known world. By using Scrabble letters and adding the odd X you could probably make up your very own pantheon of Aztec deities.
The mighty Aztec Empire was happily established in Mexico before it was Mexico. Lots of colour, festivals, feathers and enough fighting and sacrifices to keep HUITZILOPOCHTLI happy and the sun shining.
There was just one slight problem. Since that nice God QUETZALCOATL had zoomed off promising to come back one rainy day, HUITZILOPOCHTLI had risen to ascendancy and he did like his heartburgers.
In fact the Aztecs believed that the Gods needed constant supplies of fresh blood otherwise they'd wither and die. Which is why the entire culture was built around human sacrifice. It was practically a charity gore-a-thon on the Gods' behalf. People queued up to donate their life and even played charity football matches for the honor.
There came a day when it was time for the 52 year Calendar Calculations. No miserable 52 week wimpishness for the Aztecs. Now, where were all those tatty charts and ancient priests? Oh dear - what is this? It is the Day of Nine-Wind in the year of One-Reed, and it looked like QUETZALCOATL could return to overthrow HUITZILOPOCHTLI.
And return he did, or so it seemed. Accompanied by strange pale men and many weapons. MOCTEZUMA the current Ruler chewed his nails and had another golden cup of hot chocolate. It was 1519 European Time and Cortez and the Spaniards had arrived...
A host of interesting Gods with completely unpronounceable names. The Aztecs must have possessed the most dextrous tongues in the known world. By using Scrabble letters and adding the odd X you could probably make up your very own pantheon of Aztec deities.
The mighty Aztec Empire was happily established in Mexico before it was Mexico. Lots of colour, festivals, feathers and enough fighting and sacrifices to keep HUITZILOPOCHTLI happy and the sun shining.
There was just one slight problem. Since that nice God QUETZALCOATL had zoomed off promising to come back one rainy day, HUITZILOPOCHTLI had risen to ascendancy and he did like his heartburgers.
In fact the Aztecs believed that the Gods needed constant supplies of fresh blood otherwise they'd wither and die. Which is why the entire culture was built around human sacrifice. It was practically a charity gore-a-thon on the Gods' behalf. People queued up to donate their life and even played charity football matches for the honor.
There came a day when it was time for the 52 year Calendar Calculations. No miserable 52 week wimpishness for the Aztecs. Now, where were all those tatty charts and ancient priests? Oh dear - what is this? It is the Day of Nine-Wind in the year of One-Reed, and it looked like QUETZALCOATL could return to overthrow HUITZILOPOCHTLI.
And return he did, or so it seemed. Accompanied by strange pale men and many weapons. MOCTEZUMA the current Ruler chewed his nails and had another golden cup of hot chocolate. It was 1519 European Time and Cortez and the Spaniards had arrived...
EloraM23 2010/11/11 02:57
Also known as QUETZACOATL, TLAHUIZCALPANTECUHTLI
QUETZALCOATL: Famed Aztec Feathered Serpent and son of Creator God biggie OMETECUHTLI. He also makes the odd appearance as EHECATL.
QUETZALCOATL's brother is XOLOTL and his mother is Top Goddess COATLICUE. He helped create the cosmos and instigated the system of universal death and rebirth. Think wind rippling through grasses and foliage, green plumes, feathers, scales.
QUETZALCOATL ruled the Fifth World Cycle and created fifth generation humans by sprinkling his blood over the bones of the previous tenants. Of course the bones first had to be rescued from MICTLAN, which was no easy task as MICTLANTECUHTLI was playing finders-keepers.
QUETZALCOATL brought culture to mankind and also agriculture. But most importantly, he brought chocolate!
Also known as QUETZACOATL, TLAHUIZCALPANTECUHTLI
QUETZALCOATL: Famed Aztec Feathered Serpent and son of Creator God biggie OMETECUHTLI. He also makes the odd appearance as EHECATL.
QUETZALCOATL's brother is XOLOTL and his mother is Top Goddess COATLICUE. He helped create the cosmos and instigated the system of universal death and rebirth. Think wind rippling through grasses and foliage, green plumes, feathers, scales.
QUETZALCOATL ruled the Fifth World Cycle and created fifth generation humans by sprinkling his blood over the bones of the previous tenants. Of course the bones first had to be rescued from MICTLAN, which was no easy task as MICTLANTECUHTLI was playing finders-keepers.
QUETZALCOATL brought culture to mankind and also agriculture. But most importantly, he brought chocolate!
EloraM23 2010/11/11 02:58
Also known as UITZILOPOCHTLI
HUITZILOPOCHTLI: The mighty Aztec War God, born of COATLICUE after she was impregnated with a ball of feathers.
He looks like a humming bird, but he could steal your heart. Up to 70,000 hearts could be sacrificed in one go. Team colours Blue and Yellow.
After hearing nasty family gossip about his mother, he teamed up with a fire serpent and went on a murderous rampage. His brothers (who went under the catchy name of CENTZONUITZNAUA) just happened to be the stars and were killed, and his step-sister COYOLXAUHQUI was given a head start in her new career as Moon Goddess, sans body.
Meanwhile, conflicting reports suggest that HUITZILOPOCHTLI was really the Sun God son of OMETECUHTLI and a nice friendly Creator of Life and Vegetables. Bit of an identity crisis there. But one thing's for sure, under the name MEXTLI, he became the Top God of Mexico.
Also known as UITZILOPOCHTLI
HUITZILOPOCHTLI: The mighty Aztec War God, born of COATLICUE after she was impregnated with a ball of feathers.
He looks like a humming bird, but he could steal your heart. Up to 70,000 hearts could be sacrificed in one go. Team colours Blue and Yellow.
After hearing nasty family gossip about his mother, he teamed up with a fire serpent and went on a murderous rampage. His brothers (who went under the catchy name of CENTZONUITZNAUA) just happened to be the stars and were killed, and his step-sister COYOLXAUHQUI was given a head start in her new career as Moon Goddess, sans body.
Meanwhile, conflicting reports suggest that HUITZILOPOCHTLI was really the Sun God son of OMETECUHTLI and a nice friendly Creator of Life and Vegetables. Bit of an identity crisis there. But one thing's for sure, under the name MEXTLI, he became the Top God of Mexico.
EloraM23 2010/11/11 02:58
Also known as OMETEOLTLOQUE, OMETECUTLI, TLOQUE NAHUAQUE, CITLATONAC
OMETECUHTLI: Two in One Creator God.
OMETECUHTLI and his wife OMECIHUATL symbolise the duality and primordial forces of nature... and all that kind of thing.
The entire universe is their temple, but most worshippers prefer somewhere a little more modest.
Their four sons HUITZILOPOCHTLI, QUETZALCOATL, TEZCATLIPOCA and XIPE-TOTEC were also pretty big in the creation department. Often depicted as a half-man and half-woman figure, or vice versa. Could be an instance of Holy Transvestitution, of course.
Also known as OMETEOLTLOQUE, OMETECUTLI, TLOQUE NAHUAQUE, CITLATONAC
OMETECUHTLI: Two in One Creator God.
OMETECUHTLI and his wife OMECIHUATL symbolise the duality and primordial forces of nature... and all that kind of thing.
The entire universe is their temple, but most worshippers prefer somewhere a little more modest.
Their four sons HUITZILOPOCHTLI, QUETZALCOATL, TEZCATLIPOCA and XIPE-TOTEC were also pretty big in the creation department. Often depicted as a half-man and half-woman figure, or vice versa. Could be an instance of Holy Transvestitution, of course.
EloraM23 2010/11/11 02:59
Also known as ACOLNAHUACATL
ACOLMIZTLI: God of MICTLAN, the Aztec Underworld.
MICTLAN: The Aztec Underworld, ruled over by MICTLANTECUHTLI, the grinning God of Death and his wife MICTECACIHUATL.
The Aztec Underworld was a vast veritable labyrinth of layers and levels which needed looking after by multitudes of ghastly Gods. Most of them with unpronouncable and unspellable names.
Gods of the Underworld were usually depicted in garish colour in two-dimensional form. Three dimensional Gods with those colors would be a bit over the top. But MICTLAN itself is a gloomy, dank and depressing place, full of worms and creepy-crawlies.
Not to mention bones. QUETZALCOATL had a lot of trouble pursuading MICTLANTECUHTLI to give them up for rebirth in the Fifth World.
Also known as ACOLNAHUACATL
ACOLMIZTLI: God of MICTLAN, the Aztec Underworld.
MICTLAN: The Aztec Underworld, ruled over by MICTLANTECUHTLI, the grinning God of Death and his wife MICTECACIHUATL.
The Aztec Underworld was a vast veritable labyrinth of layers and levels which needed looking after by multitudes of ghastly Gods. Most of them with unpronouncable and unspellable names.
Gods of the Underworld were usually depicted in garish colour in two-dimensional form. Three dimensional Gods with those colors would be a bit over the top. But MICTLAN itself is a gloomy, dank and depressing place, full of worms and creepy-crawlies.
Not to mention bones. QUETZALCOATL had a lot of trouble pursuading MICTLANTECUHTLI to give them up for rebirth in the Fifth World.
EloraM23 2010/11/11 03:00
Also known as BATMAN, PIQUETE-ZIÑA
PIQUETE-ZINA: A Zapotec Bat God. In fact he's also known as Batman.
We are looking for further information upside-down in the dark.
With his dual dynamic personality, could this have been the true origin of Batman and Robin?
Also known as BATMAN, PIQUETE-ZIÑA
PIQUETE-ZINA: A Zapotec Bat God. In fact he's also known as Batman.
We are looking for further information upside-down in the dark.
With his dual dynamic personality, could this have been the true origin of Batman and Robin?
EloraM23 2010/11/11 03:01
CHANTICO: Domestic Goddess of the Home and Domestic Hearth Fires. Also has a neat sideline in volcanoes.
She's in charge of precious things, and is very protective of her treasures. Look but don't touch, okay? Put your worldly goods in her care for the ultimate in home security. A very comforting Goddess to have about the place.
But there's more to CHANTICO than that. With her red serpent accessories and crown of poisoned cactus spikes, she symbolises the combination of pleasure and pain. What does that tell you about Aztec domestic life?
One other thing. Don't mention the paprika. There was a ban on eating the stuff during a fast, but she just couldn't help herself. As punishment she was turned into a dog by TONACATECUHTLI the Food God. Perhaps that's why dogs like crouching beside the fire.
CHANTICO: Domestic Goddess of the Home and Domestic Hearth Fires. Also has a neat sideline in volcanoes.
She's in charge of precious things, and is very protective of her treasures. Look but don't touch, okay? Put your worldly goods in her care for the ultimate in home security. A very comforting Goddess to have about the place.
But there's more to CHANTICO than that. With her red serpent accessories and crown of poisoned cactus spikes, she symbolises the combination of pleasure and pain. What does that tell you about Aztec domestic life?
One other thing. Don't mention the paprika. There was a ban on eating the stuff during a fast, but she just couldn't help herself. As punishment she was turned into a dog by TONACATECUHTLI the Food God. Perhaps that's why dogs like crouching beside the fire.
EloraM23 2010/11/11 03:01
Also known as OMACATL, TEZCALIPOCA, TITLACAUAN
TEZCATLIPOCA: All-important God specialising in Night, Death and Temptation.
He carries a smoking mirror which bewilders enemies and confuses the issues but is happiest when leading people down the garden path to evil.
Despite being a nasty piece of work, and a rival of his brother QUETZALCOATL, he's a handsome chap who once seduced the beautiful XOCHIQUETZAL. But he's a real whizz at shape-changing (often turning into MIXCOATL) and appears most often as a jaguar. If you are into worshipping jaguars, best stick with the E-type.
Also known as OMACATL, TEZCALIPOCA, TITLACAUAN
TEZCATLIPOCA: All-important God specialising in Night, Death and Temptation.
He carries a smoking mirror which bewilders enemies and confuses the issues but is happiest when leading people down the garden path to evil.
Despite being a nasty piece of work, and a rival of his brother QUETZALCOATL, he's a handsome chap who once seduced the beautiful XOCHIQUETZAL. But he's a real whizz at shape-changing (often turning into MIXCOATL) and appears most often as a jaguar. If you are into worshipping jaguars, best stick with the E-type.
EloraM23 2010/11/11 03:01
Also known as MICTLANTECUHTZI
MICTLANTECUHTLI: God of Death who rules MICTLAN, the lowest level of the Aztec Underworld.
He is very skeletal with big staring eyes, and guards the bones of those who've passed on.
He is also depicted as a grinning maniac with his liver dangling from his chest. Now here's a God that loves his work! He almost looks like an over-the-top game show host.
And ratings for MICTLANTECUHTLI's Supreme Sacrifice Show were unbeatable. He was never short of contestants — and with such a genial host it's no wonder that victims were queuing up to be sacrificed. Death was considered a much better prize than some boring old million-dollar check.
With his bats, spiders and owls, MICTLANTECUHTLI is also very popular in a Halloweenish sort of way.
His wife is MICTECACIHUATL, who's equally at home with the bones.
Also known as MICTLANTECUHTZI
MICTLANTECUHTLI: God of Death who rules MICTLAN, the lowest level of the Aztec Underworld.
He is very skeletal with big staring eyes, and guards the bones of those who've passed on.
He is also depicted as a grinning maniac with his liver dangling from his chest. Now here's a God that loves his work! He almost looks like an over-the-top game show host.
And ratings for MICTLANTECUHTLI's Supreme Sacrifice Show were unbeatable. He was never short of contestants — and with such a genial host it's no wonder that victims were queuing up to be sacrificed. Death was considered a much better prize than some boring old million-dollar check.
With his bats, spiders and owls, MICTLANTECUHTLI is also very popular in a Halloweenish sort of way.
His wife is MICTECACIHUATL, who's equally at home with the bones.
EloraM23 2010/11/11 03:02
Also known as TECCIZTECATL, TECUCIZTECAL
TECUCIZTECATL: God of the Moon. But he started off as a lowly God of Snails and Worms.
Hoping to improve his slimey status, he volunteered to jump into the sacrificial flames to become the sun. But he lost his nerve at the last minute and NANAUTZIN beat him to it.
Ashamed, he leapt after her, but most of the fire had turned to ash. An eagle swooped down and carried them both to the sky. The sunny NANAUTZIN shone resplendent, but cowardly TECUCIZTECATL made a very feeble moon. The Gods jeered and threw a rabbit at him.
Although he changed his name to METZLI to avoid embarrassment, he still bears the bruises to this day. Go take a look. Join the dots — or in this case craters — and see if you can spot the rabbit outline.
Also known as TECCIZTECATL, TECUCIZTECAL
TECUCIZTECATL: God of the Moon. But he started off as a lowly God of Snails and Worms.
Hoping to improve his slimey status, he volunteered to jump into the sacrificial flames to become the sun. But he lost his nerve at the last minute and NANAUTZIN beat him to it.
Ashamed, he leapt after her, but most of the fire had turned to ash. An eagle swooped down and carried them both to the sky. The sunny NANAUTZIN shone resplendent, but cowardly TECUCIZTECATL made a very feeble moon. The Gods jeered and threw a rabbit at him.
Although he changed his name to METZLI to avoid embarrassment, he still bears the bruises to this day. Go take a look. Join the dots — or in this case craters — and see if you can spot the rabbit outline.
EloraM23 2010/11/11 03:02
COATLICUE: Goddess of Earth and Fire.
She has terrible dress sense, wearing a skirt of writhing snakes and a necklace made of human hands and hearts. Compared to that, her claws and double snake head are positively chic.
She's known as the Mother of the Gods, and her offspring shot to the top of the pantheon. Her sons are QUETZALCOATL and XOLOTL, her daughter is COYOLXAUHQUI, and she also gave birth to HUITZILOPOCHTLI in very suspicious circumstances.
COATLICUE: Goddess of Earth and Fire.
She has terrible dress sense, wearing a skirt of writhing snakes and a necklace made of human hands and hearts. Compared to that, her claws and double snake head are positively chic.
She's known as the Mother of the Gods, and her offspring shot to the top of the pantheon. Her sons are QUETZALCOATL and XOLOTL, her daughter is COYOLXAUHQUI, and she also gave birth to HUITZILOPOCHTLI in very suspicious circumstances.
#34 Myth&Mystery
For discussion of mythologies, ancient cultures, the supernatural, mysticism and folklore. Explore the darker mysteries of life here.