Aztec Mythology

History 28By Donald Travis

Aztec MythologyThe Aztecs worshipped several different Gods or Deities and over 100 celestial creatures that were associated to their

spiritual beliefs.

Before The Spanish Conquest the Aztecs Worshipped Several Different Mythological Characters. This Presentation Will Cover Some Of The Deities That Impacted The Aztec Culture.

Chalchiuitlicue- Translation Is She Who Wears A Jade Skirt. In Some Legends This goddess was the wife And in Others She Was The Sister Of The Rain God, Tlaloc. She Was Often Associated With Serpents.

Xolotl

Xoltol- Was The God With Associations To Both Lightening And Death. Was Also Associated With The Underworld. Was Believed To Have Assisted The Dead On There Journey To The After Life. Was Also The God Of Bad Luck & Fire. Depicted As A Skeleton, A Dog Headed Man Or Monster With Reversed Feet.

Huitzilopochtli

Huitzilopochtli- Was Depicted As The Left-Handed Hummingbird. Was The God Of War, Also A Sun God, And Was Believed To Be A Patron Of Tenochtitlan. Huitzilopochtli Was Also Considered To Be The National God.

Tlazolteotl

Tlazolteotl -Was Depicted As The Goddess Of Purification, Steam Baths, Midwives, And Of Adulterers. Though She Was Associated With Sin As A Purification Goddess She Forgave Those That Were Diseased & Have Committed Sins.

Mictlantecuhtli

Mictlantecuhtli -Was Depicted As The God Of The Dead And Was Regarded As The King Of The Northernmost Area Of The Underworld. His Worship At Times Called For Rituals Involving Cannibalism As The Flesh Of Humans Would Be Consumed Around The Grounds And Inside Of Temples.

Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl-Was Depicted As A Feathered-Serpent Deity That Was Related To Several Gods Such As The Gods Of Wind, Knowledge, Arts & Crafts. In Addition He Was The Patron Of Priesthood.

Tezcatlipoca

Tezcatlipoca - Was Depicted With A Black & Yellow Stripe Across His Face, Also Was Shown With A Snake Or Obsidian Mirror In Place Of His Right Foot. He Was Believed To Be Associated With A Wide Range Of Ideas Such As Strife, The Night Wind & Hurricanes, The Earth, Temptation, Sorcery, & Even War.

Tlaloc

Tlaloc - Was Depicted With Goggle Like Eyes & Fangs. He Was An Important Deity To The Aztec Culture. He Was The God Of Water, Fertility, & Rain. He Was Believed To Be Able To produce Both Thunder & Lightning. He Was Associated With Caves & At Times Believed Was Thought To Have Required The Sacrifice Of Children.

Xipe Totec

Xipe Totec - Was On Many Occasions Depicted Holding A Bloody Weapon & By Wearing A Suit Made From A Flayed Human Skin. It Was Said That He Flayed Himself In Order To Provide Food For The Humans. This Was A Symbolic Gesture To Show How The Maize Seeds Lose Their Outer Layer Prior To Germination. He Was Also Believed To Have Invented War.

Sources

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Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_mythologyHttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xocotl_%28Aztec_god%29Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HuitzilopochtliHttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TlazolteotlHttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MictlantecuhtliHttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TlalocHttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xipe_Totec