Aztec gods were extremely revered by the Aztecs. They feared and worshipped their gods. To thank their gods for everything they had supplied, the Aztecs erected temples and offered sacrifices to them. Before and after conflicts, they conducted sacrifices to satisfy their gods, which sometimes involved human sacrifices. There were gods of war, water, the harvest, and a variety of other things. The Aztecs spent a significant amount of time worshipping their gods.
Aztec mythology is the body or collection of myths associated with Central Mexico’s Aztec culture. The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking peoples who lived in central Mexico and shared much of their mythology with other Mesoamerican cultures. Legend has it that the numerous clans that would become the Aztecs landed in the Anahuac region near Lake Texcoco from the north.
The location of the target valley and lake is obvious – it is in the middle of modern-day Mexico City – but little is known about the Aztecs’ origins with certainty. Their origins have been attributed to a variety of people. According to legend, the Mexica/Aztec forefathers came from a site called Aztlan in the north, the last of seven nahuatlacas (Nahuatl-speaking tribes, from tlaca, “man”) to make the voyage southward, hence their name “Azteca.” Others claim they came from Chicomoztoc, “the land of the seven caves,” or Tamoanchan (the legendary origin of all civilizations).
Symbol of growth, fertility, love, pleasure, and creativity. Xochiquetzal’s twin brother was Xochipilli. He was known as the Flower Prince and had a human wife. He is pictured sporting a teardrop-shaped mother of pearl pendant. He was a god of pleasure and mischief who enjoyed making people laugh. He wasn’t a vengeful deity; rather, he … Read more
Symbol of love, protection, and power. Tlazolteotl’s daughter was Xochiquetzal. Tlaloc was her husband until Tezcatlipoca kidnapped her and forced her to marry him. Her illustration depicts a young, lovely woman surrounded by butterflies and birds clutching flowers. She is related with plants and flowers. She was affiliated with both mothers and prostitutes, and was … Read more
Symbol of purification, fertility, birth. Tlazolteotl was the goddess of rebirth, fertility, and purification. Centeotl is Centeotl’s mother. Sinners would be cursed by Tlazolteotl, who would cure them with steam baths and sacrifices to her. She was also a dirt and purification deity. Her dual character was exemplified by pictures of her devouring dirt. Like … Read more
Symbol of sustenance, good fortune. Centeotl was the maize god. He has corn ears and a dark line running from his brows to his jawline. His mother was the goddess of fertility and childbirth, and his wife was the first woman to bear children. Centeotl, according to Aztec legend, traveled to the underworld and returned … Read more
Symbol of renewal, rebirth. To provide nourishment for his people, Xipe Totec would flay his skin. This was meant to represent snakes shedding their skin or a corn seed shedding its outer layer. He was frequently represented wielding a rattling stick and wearing a pointed cap, as the Mexican emperor was. After flaying his skin, … Read more
Symbol of sacrifice, fire, and war Huitzilopochtli was the Aztec deity of war and was the son of Ometecuhtli/Omecihuatl. He was a sign of fire since he was carrying a fire serpent. He became the fifth sun because he was so powerful and strong. The stars, or Tzizimimeh, were enraged at Huitzilopochtli and chased him … Read more
Symbol of the present, war. Chalchiuhtlicue and Tlaloc had a son named Tonatiuh. He was picked to be the fifth sun, but he was unable to jump into the flames when the time arrived. Tonatiuh was humiliated when Nanahuatl jumped into the flames. He swiftly followed, and the two of them combined to form two … Read more
Humility’s symbol. Nanahuatl was a god with sores all over his body. He was a gentle God who genuinely cared about everyone. Nanahuatl is frequently represented as a divinity rising from the ashes. When the gods needed a fifth sun, they chose Nanahuatl and Tonatiuh as the moon and sun, respectively. The gods made Nanahuatl … Read more
Childbirth, fertility, and protection are all represented by this symbol. Chalchiuhtlicue was the goddess of baptisms, rivers, storms, and the seas. She protected mothers and children while also ensuring that the harvests were fertile. Tlaloc married her for the second time. She was the fourth sun, and she was a kind monarch who cared for … Read more
Fertility symbol. Tialoc, the god of fertility, rain, and water, was the third sun. He could be kind or merciless. By showering the Earth with rain or hurling thunderbolts or hail down from the sky, he either gave life or took it away. Shellfish, amphibians, snails, and herons were among Tlaloc’s animal forms. He lived … Read more