At we are great lovers of each and every mythology, today we are going to talk to you about the gods of the Mexica. This civilization, also known as the Aztecs, were a Mesoamerican people who lived in the Valley of Mexico. Their mythology was rich in deities, among which the primordial. They starred in the legend of the five suns that explains creation, since the Aztecs thought that a world existed before theirs.
Thanks to this article you will learn in depth about the Mexica gods that will amaze you, their names are Quetzalcóatl, Tláloc and Xipe Tótec. Tremendously powerful and important deities for the Aztecs that will impress you. Dare to discover them!
3 gods of the Mexica that will amaze you
1. Quetzalcoatl
The literal meaning of his name is feathered serpent; in some legends this deity is considered the main god of the Mexica. It represented the duality between the physical world of men (the snake) and that of the spirits (the feathers).. In the legend of the five suns, it is said that this god is the son of the two main ones called Ometecuhtli and Omecíhuatl. The Mexica related Quetzalcoatl to the planet Venus.
In other towns, this deity was represented as a bearded man. This meant that when the Spanish began the conquest of South America, the inhabitants of the area confused Hernán Cortés with Quetzalcóatl, due to his large beards and his fierce appearance that fit with the images of the humanoid Quetzalcóatl.
2. Tlaloc
This great deity represented the rainy season for the Mexica, so they held great ceremonies to honor him during the first month of the year. His name translates in Nahuatl as nectar of the earth and although he was initially a deity venerated by the Mexica, he soon became one of the most important gods in all of Central America. Like most of the Mexica gods, Tláloc represented a great duality because he could be both a blessing and also the greatest misfortune. In the same way that rain is a guarantee of fertility and a flood is a guarantee of disaster. He was represented with a large upper lip, with a black or blue face and a gold banner in the shape of a snake, a tool with which he made lightning bolts..
The rituals to Tláloc were horrifying, since a large number of children dressed as the deity were sacrificed on the hill prepared for the god. The Mexica believed that people who died of drowning or victims of leprosy ended up in the so-called paradise of Tláloc from which water flowed that was beneficial for the Earth and life. It was located in the eastern region of the Universe.
3. Xipe Totec
The translation of his name is already very macabre, since its literal meaning is «our skinned lord.» He represents both renewal and dry soil, as we have already mentioned, the deities of the Mexica culture had a duality between good and evil. Depicted with a chicahuaztli (rattle that attracted rain) in one hand and always wrapped with the skin of skinned human beings. Legend has it that he was the first god who sacrificed himself to feed all living creatures, he tore out his eyes and skinned his skin so that all the people who inhabited the earth could eat and not go hungry.. The sacrifices to Xipe Tótec were just as bloody as those made to Tláloc, since the skin of this deity’s tributes was torn off in strips, believing that this would make the god very happy since he made the same sacrifice for himself. the humans. Changing one’s skin was a symptom of renewal and although it may seem macabre, the rituals were emotional, as they meant a new beginning and a kind of resurrection, although in our times this is difficult for us to understand.
As you may have seen after reading this article about the gods of the mexicas, these were both cruel and kind. The sacrifices made to him were extremely bloody, although the people who venerated him saw it as a source of pride. These were the most important gods within the Mexican mythologyhis cult spread throughout much of Central America with different names although with the same essence.
Now we would like to know your opinion about these harsh Mexican deities. Which of them impressed you the most? Do you think that the sacrifices made to these gods were typical of savages? What is your opinion of the sacrifice that Xipe Tótec made to feed all the human beings who lived on earth? As we always tell you, we are looking forward to reading your comments. So feel free to write to us and answer these questions that we ask you!