Tag: Aztec gods

Aztec Gods and Goddesses: Facts and Information

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Here are some facts about Aztec Gods and Goddesses.

  • The Aztecs worshipped many different gods and goddesses, and the number grew as gods were adopted from neighbouring cities, tribes and societies.

  • Most of the Aztec gods were linked to specific aspects of Aztec life. Centeotl (or Cinteotl), for example, was god of maize.

Some of the most important Aztec gods and goddesses are listed below. Click the links to learn more about them.

What next? Learn more about Aztec religion, or visit our Aztec resources page.

Aztec Gods and Goddesses: Tezcatlipoca Facts

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Here are some facts about Tezcatlipoca,

  • Tezcatlipoca was an important god in the Aztec religion. He was the god of material things and of night, and was also associated with winds, the earth, magic and war.

  • He was sometimes known as owner of the sky and the Earth, and Lord of the Smoking Mirror. The name was used because of the shiny black mirrors often used by Aztec priests.
  • He was sometimes described as being invisible, or black in colour. He is often shown wearing a feathered headdress, and sandals, and carrying a bow and arrows and shield.
  • Many temples built to honour Tezcatlipoca were aligned east to west, as he was associated with the sun. His main temple in Tenochtitlan included a platform reached by 80 stone steps.
  • According to many Aztec legends, Tezcatlipoca and his brother the god Quetzalcoatl created the world. The Aztecs believed they lived in the last of five cycles, or periods of creation.
  • He was the son of the god Ometéotl. He had two sons named Itzli and Ahpuch, a daughter named Mictlantecuhtli, and several nieces and nephews.
  • To create the world, Tezcatlipoca first used his foot as bait to capture a fierce crocodile-like monster. Because of this, he is often depicted as having just one foot.
  • The ceremony honouring Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important in the year, and took place in May. A young man was sacrificed, and he was believed to represent the gods on earth.
  • It was believed that he could see any illegal or evil behavior happening anywhere on earth. Aztec kings had to stand in front of his statue and prove themselves worthy of the position of leader.
  • The priests who worshipped Tezcatlipoca often dressed to look like him. They would often cover themselves in black soot and wear a headdress made from turkey feathers.

What next? Discover more facts about the Aztecs by visiting our Aztec resources page.

Aztec Gods and Goddesses: Tlaloc Facts

James Leave a comment

Here are some facts about Tlaloc.

  • Tlaloc was an important god in Aztec religion. He was the god of water, rain, fertility and springs, as well as caves and it was believed that he lived in a cave.

  • Tlaloc was also the ruler of the Third Sun, a place with lots of water. The Third Sun disappeared after heavy rain, and people were replaced by animals such as dogs and turkeys.
  • He was an important god 800 years before the Aztecs thrived. He was married to the goddess of flowers, Xochiquetzal, who also made sure that pregnant women were healthy.
  • Many people were scared of him because he was able to send hail, lightning and thunder. He ruled the 4th layer of the heavens, a place where victims of drowning went to.
  • He is usually described as having long fangs and bulging eyes. He is sometimes shown as looking like a jaguar, and jaguar skulls and skeletons were often left as offerings to him,
  • A sanctuary dedicated to Tlaloc has been found on top of the 4,151 metre Mount Tlaloc in central Mexico. Evidence of human sacrifice has been found at the site.
  • It was said that Tlaloc owned four different large jugs of water. One of the jugs watered plants, one caused the plants to die, one caused frost, and one would lead to total destruction.
  • The followers of Tlaloc were buried with seeds and a stick for digging, when they died. They were dressed in paper and their foreheads were painted blue.
  • Ceremonies dedicated to Tlaloc took place at the end of the dry season, during March or April. Children were sacrificed to the god, to make sure it would rain during the year.
  • A huge 160 ton statue, possibly representing Tlaloc, was found in the Mexican town of Coatlinchan. It poured down with rain as the statue was taken away to a museum.

What next? Discover more about the Aztecs by visiting our Aztec resources page.

Aztec Gods and Goddesses: Quetzalcoatl Facts

James Leave a comment

Here are some facts about Quetzalcoatl.

  • Quetzalcoatl was one of the most important gods of the Aztecs and other peoples of Central America. His name means feathered serpent and he has been worshipped since 100 BC.

  • He is shown sometimes as a serpent and sometimes as a dark man with a red beak. He is often shown holding a shield and wearing a beautiful plumed headdress.
  • He was the god of learning, education and the priesthood. He was also related to the gods of arts and crafts, the wind, the dawn and the planet Venus.
  • Quetzalcoatl was sometimes seen as a symbol of death, and was said to have invented the calendar and books.
  • Others believed that he was responsible for giving corn to mankind.
  • Stories vary as to how and when Quetzalcoatl was born and who his parents were. One story says that he was the son of the Aztec goddess Coatlicue, who had over 400 children.
  • Quetzalcoatl may have been based partly on a real historical figure, a leader of the 8th century Toltec empire. He supposedly fled from the city of Tula, promising to return but never did.
  • The Aztecs believed that Quetzalcoatl marked the boundary between the Earth and the sky. He also helped to create mankind, as he was one of the creator gods.
  • The Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II may have believed that the explorer Cortes was Quetzalcoatl when he landed in the New World in 1519. Cortes was largely responsible for the downfall of the Aztec empire.
  • He was sometimes also described as a white god with a beard. Some people believe that Quetzalcoatl was Christ, returning to earth as promised.
  • Temples dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl have been found all across Central America. One of the most well-known is at Chichen Itza with its 30 metre high stone pyramid.