The Aztecs honored three major gods who were important forces in their lives. Beneath those three gods was a second level of gods, then a third, and hundreds of gods filled the lesser ranks. The responsibilities of gods overlapped, and many gods were in charge of more than one area. There were several war gods, for example. Each had other responsibilities, and while one might be responsible for victory, another tricked humans into going to war.
The three primary gods were Huitzilopochtli, Tezcatlipoca, and Quet-zalcoatl. Huitzilopochtli’s name means “hummingbird left.” Huitzilopochtli was the god of the sun. His name refers to the position of the sun during the winter, when it is on the left as it crosses from east to west. He is identified with the winter dry season, which is the time for war. He was also the lord of the south, the lord of the day, and the patron god of the Aztec people. The Aztecs believed that Huitzilopochtli was in a constant struggle with the forces of the night to keep humans alive.
Tezcatlipoca, the “smoking mirror,” was a war god as well. He was also the god of magic and death. His name comes from the black obsidian mirror he was said to carry. Tezcatlipoca was missing a foot, which was said to have been eaten by a monster as Tezcatlipoca dragged the earth from the waters and created the land. Tezcatlipoca could be impulsive and bad-tempered but he was not really evil. He sent things like hurricanes and temptation, but could also send good fortune and remove the effects of sin through the confession ritual.
Quetzalcoatl, the “quetzal-feathered serpent,” was the god of civilization, priests, and learning or knowledge. This god was responsible for the Aztec story of creation. Quetzalcoatl took the form of the morning star, and his twin brother was the evening star (Venus). He battled the stars that filled the night sky and, finishing the battle at dawn, was the last star to retire before the sun rose.
Among the most powerful goddesses were Coatlicue, Chalchi-uhtlicue, and Chicomecoatl. Like the gods, goddesses had many responsibilities.
In Nahuatl, Coatlicue means “the one with the skirt of serpents.” She and several other goddesses were associated with the power of both the earth and women to create life. They were also associated with death and decay, since they give rise to new life. Coatlicue was the mother of the gods and the one who gave birth to the moon and stars. She was also the mother of Huitzilopochtli. Coatlicue was sometimes a mother, sometimes a grandmother, and always the patron goddess of women who die giving birth. She was shown with snakes in her skirts, wearing a necklace featuring human hearts, hands, and skulls. These images suggest that life is not always a beautiful thing and dangers sometimes await.
Chalchiuhtlicue, the “one with the skirt of precious jade,” was the goddess of lakes, streams, and rivers. This goddess was sometimes shown with a river flowing from her. Chalchiuhtlicue was married to the god of rain, Tlaloc. She was the goddess who unleashed the great flood that ended the fourth world. This flood washed away the evil people of the earth. In Aztec mythology, the world began again and we are now in the fifth world.
Chicomecoatl, “seven-serpent,” was the goddess of corn. Without her, the Aztecs thought there would be no corn—and most Aztecs ate corn in some form three times a day. Chicomecoatl was represented as a young woman wearing a necklace of golden ears of corn. She also held ears of corn that looked like feathers. Each fall, a young girl who was supposed to represent the goddess was sacrificed. The Aztecs believed that if Chicomecoatl appreciated the sacrifice, they would have a plentiful harvest.
World History
