Native American: Aztec Gods & Goddesses
QUETZALCOATL
The Feathered Serpent. The Precious Twin who lifts the sun out of
darkness, god of the winds and the breath of life, First Lord of the Toltecs. Lawgiver,
civilizer, creator of the calender. Demons tempted Quetzalcoatl constantly to commit murder
and human sacrifice, but his love was too great for him to succumb. To atone for great sins,
Quetzcoatl threw himself on into a funeral pyre, where his ashes rose to the heavens as a flock
of birds carrying his heart to the star Venus. A frieze in the palace at Teotihuacan shows his
first entry into the world in the shape of a chrysalis, from which he struggles to emerge as a
butterfly, the symbol of perfection. Quetzalcoatl is by far the most compassionate of the Azec
gods -- he only demands one human sacrifice a year. Often considered synonomous with
HUITZILOPOTCHLI.
TEZCATLIPOCA
The Prince of This World, the Mirror that Smokes, the One Always at
the Shoulder, the Shadow. A trickster, revered particularly by soldiers and magicians. The name
refers to the black obsidian mirrors used by magicians which become cloudy when scrying. A god
of wealth and power, Tezcatlopoca's favors can only be won by those willing to face his terrors.
Ruler over the early years of a man's life.
TLALOC
Lord of all sources of water, clouds, rain, lightening, mountain springs,
and weather.
TLALOCAN
Kingdom of Tlaloc, a heaven of sensual delights, of rainbows, butterflies
and flowers, of simple-minded and shallow pleasures. Souls spend only four years here before
returning to the land of the living. Unless it strives for higher and nobler things while
living, a soul is destined for this endless round of mortal life and Tlalocan. When a life had
been particularly evil, a soul might journey instead to Mictlan.
TLILLAN-TLAPALLAN
The land of the fleshless. The Land of the Black and Red, the
colors signifying wisdom. A paradise for those who successfully follow the teachings of
Quetzalcoatl. Those souls who come to Tlillan-Tlapallan have learned to live without fleshly
bodies, a state greatly to be desired.
TLAZOLTEOTL
Eater of filth, devourer of sins, goddess of witches and witchcraft.
Tlazolteotl has power over all forms of unclean behavior, usually sexual. Confessing sins to
Tlazolteotl, one is cleansed. The goddess has four forms or aspects, corresponding to the
phases of the moon: a young and carefree temptress, the lover of Quetzalcoatl; the Goddess of
gambling and uncertainty; the Great Priestess who consumes and destroys the sins of mankind;
and frightful old crone, persecutor and destroyer of youth.
TONATIUH
God of the Sun. Poor and ill, Tonatiuh cast himself into the flames, and
being burnt up, was resurrected. Daily Tonatiuh repeats his passage across the heavens, down
into darkness, and back again into the sky. With 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. In Tonatiuhican, the House of the Sun, dwell
those who have won even greater enlightenment than those who dwell in Tlillan-Tlapallan.
XIPE TOTEC
Lord of the Spring, god of newly planted seed and of pentitential
torture. A pockmarked saviour who tears out his eyes and flays himself in penance to the gods,
thus persuading the gods to give maize to men. Giving up his pockmarked skin, Xipe Totec is
then clad in robes of gold.
XIUHTECUHTLI
Lord of fire, Lord of the Pole Star, pivot of the universe, one of
the forms of the Supreme Deity. The lord of every flame, from those which burn in the temples
to those which burn in the lowliest huts.
XOLOTL
The god with backward feet who brought Man as well as Fire from the
underworlds. Bringer of misfortune. The evil aspect of the star Venus. Quetzalcoatl's deformed
twin.
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Copyright: Nikki Burke 2000-2008
Website Last Updated: January 03, 2008
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