14-15. The color black is strongly associated with Tezcatlipoca and he is often portrayed as having horizontal bands across his face especially in black and yellow, but the many different codices vary on which two colors from site to site. [11] There are also portrayals of his body also being black in certain places. Tezcatlipoca, (Nahuatl: “Smoking Mirror”) god of the Great Bear constellation and of the night sky, one of the major deities of the Aztec pantheon. The two later cooperated, however, to create the 5th Sun. Similarities exist with the patron deity of the K'iche' Maya as described in the Popol Vuh. During the feast where he was worshipped as the deity he personified, he climbed the stairs to the top of the temple on his own where the priests seized him, a time in which he proceeded to symbolically crush "one by one the clay flutes on which he had played in his brief moment of glory," and then was sacrificed, his body being eaten later. In the Aztec ritual calendar the Tonalpohualli Tezcatlipoca ruled the trecena 1 Ocelotl ("1 Jaguar")—he was also patron of the days with the name Acatl ("reed").[8]. Women were sometimes sacrificed as ixiptla to honor female deities. The Main temple of Tezcatlipoca in Tenochtitlan was located south of the Great Temple. He was sometimes known as owner of the sky and the Earth, and Lord of the Smoking Mirror. Tezcatlipoca’s cult was brought to central Mexico by the Toltecs, Nahua-speaking warriors from the … Aztec mythology vector set featuring illustrations of Tezcatlipoca god in stroke silhouette and color style. Transformed into giant snakes, the two gods attacked and dismembered the female reptilian mo… Together with his eternal opposite Quetzalcoatl, he created the world. [29] Angered, Tezcatlipoca turned into a jaguar and destroyed the world. Tezcatlipoca (/ˌtɛzkætliˈpoʊkə/; Classical Nahuatl: Tezcatlipōca Nahuatl pronunciation: [teskatɬiˈpoːka] (listen)[1]) was a central deity in Aztec religion, and his main festival was the Toxcatl ceremony celebrated in the month of May. [9] Although there are striking similarities between possible earlier imagery of Tezcatlipoca, archaeologists are split in the debate. Corrections? [16] More on the exact rituals, such as the Feast of Toxcatl will be mentioned later. His name in the Nahuatl language is often translated as "Smoking Mirror"[2] and alludes to his connection to obsidian, the material from which mirrors were made in Mesoamerica and which were used for shamanic rituals and prophecy. Identity/Class: Aztec god. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Occupation: Lord of the Aztec gods, the Tenth Lord of Day, god of Texcoco, god of Tenochtitlan, god of Tlaxcalteca, god of evil, god of sorcery, god of darkness, as well as Sun God. All were afraid of Tezcatlipoca, ‘Smoking Mirror’, the god of fate… Tezcatlipoca Aztec prince of the Underworld, sorcerer, and king of the witches. He was involved in the earth’s creation, commanded jaguars, oversaw sacrifices, and presided over the night sky. [21] The new king would claim his spiritual nakedness symbolically through words and physical vulnerability, praising Tezcatlipoca with lines such as: O master, O our lord, O lord of the near, of the nigh, O night, O wind...Poor am I. In it he saw everything; invisible and omnipresent, he knew all the deeds and thoughts of humans. Tezcatlipoca was an important god in the Aztec religion. Tezcatlipoca's Helm is the dragon-shaped helmet on top of its skull-like head. Comme beaucoup de dieux aztèques, il était associé à plusieurs aspects de la religion aztèque, le ciel et la terre, les vents et le nord, la royauté, la divination et la guerre. He was represented by the Ursa Major (Great Bear) constellation , which the Aztec saw as a jaguar . By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In one version of the Aztec creation account[19] the myth of the Five Suns, the first creation, "The Sun of the Earth" was ruled by Tezcatlipoca but destroyed by Quetzalcoatl when he struck down Tezcatlipoca who then transformed into a jaguar. One of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, he is associated with a wide range of concepts, including the night sky, the night winds, hurricanes, the north, the earth, obsidian, enmity, discord, rulership, divination, temptation, jaguars, sorcery, beauty, war, and strife. Called Yoalli Ehécatl (“Night Wind”), Yaotl (“Warrior”), and Telpochtli (“Young Man”), he was said to appear at crossroads at night to challenge warriors. Analyzing the sources and problems related to Tezcatlipoca's protean powers and shifting meanings, the author guides readers through the symbolic names of this great god, from his representation on skins and stones to his … [21] Extreme reverence and respect, characterized by ceremonial proceedings in which priests were "to pay homage" to Tezcatlipoca, or where "citizens waited expectantly" for ceremonial proceedings to start under the low hum of "shell trumpets," were commonplace, especially for this deity. [29] Chalchihuitlicue the Water Goddess then became the sun. Affiliations: Ajak, Tlaloc, Huizilopochtli, Tetzcatlipoca's priests were the … Sometimes he was shown as a partner in creation, but more often he was shown as a … There are few surviving representations of Tezcatlipoca into the present day. A creator god, Tezcatlipoca ruled over Ocelotonatiuh (“Jaguar-Sun”), the first of the four worlds that were created and destroyed before the present universe. The name Tezcatlipoca means “smoking mirror,” in reference to the obsidian mirror that he uses to foretell the future and spy on others. A central figure of the Popol Vuh was the god Tohil whose name means "obsidian" and who was associated with sacrifice. De nombreuses divinités créatrices n'étaient en réalité qu'un aspect de ce dieu tout puissant. • Guilhem Olivier, Mockeries and Metamorphoses of an Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, "Lord of the Smoking Mirror", 2003, University Press of Colorado For a summary of Tezcatlipoca's epithets and their significance see Olivier (2003) Chapter 1. In one of the Aztec accounts of creation, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca joined forces to create the world. Also the Classic Maya god of rulership and thunder known to modern Mayanists as "God K", or the "Manikin Scepter" and to the classic Maya as K'awil was depicted with a smoking obsidian knife in his forehead and one leg replaced with a snake. Il était le frère de Quetzalcoatl et surtout son principal adversaire. Each one can be used individually! BASH! Most were sung to praise the highest deities, including Tezcatlipoca, who was often addressed as the "Giver of Life." The name was used because of the shiny black mirrors often used by Aztec priests. [29] For Aztec nobility, this "patron deity" is fundamental in the social and natural phenomena justified by religion during this time. In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Quetzalcoatl, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec. [27] During the last 20 days before being sacrificed, the ixiptla had their appearance transformed back to that of a warrior. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Depending on the site half of his leg, the full length of his arms, the majority of his legs, or any combination thereof can be depicted. Every year at that time the priest selected a young and handsome war prisoner. xiii, 403 pages : 26 cm A study of Tezcatlipoca, one of the greatest but least understood Mesoamerican pantheon. He is the god of the nocturnal sky, god of the ancestral memory, god of time and the Lord of the North, the embodiment of change through conflict. [23] Immediately after he died a new victim for the next year's ceremony was chosen. In addition to his shapeshifting ability, Tezcatlipoca also … Sometimes the mirror was shown on his chest, and sometimes smoke would emanate from the mirror. TEZCATLIPOCA. [29] Tezcatlipoca overthrew Quetzalcoatl, forcing him to send a great wind that devastated the world, and the people who survived were turned into monkeys. For one year he lived in princely luxury, impersonating the god. Real Name: Tezcatlipoca. [29] To attract her, Tezcatlipoca used his foot as bait, and Cipactli ate it. [22] Sacred hymns were also chanted at ceremonies to honor the gods. According to Fray Diego Durán it was "lofty and magnificently built. Tezcatlipoca (Tez-ca-tlee-POH-ka), whose name means “Smoking Mirror”, was the Aztec god of night and sorcery, as well as the patron deity of Aztec kings and young warriors. Tezcatlipoca’s cult was brought to central Mexico by the Toltecs, Nahua-speaking warriors from the north, about the end of the 10th century ad. [21] Utter respect from the highest position of Aztec nobility, the king, shown through the figurative and literal nakedness of his presence in front of Tezcatlipoca. Outside of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, Tezcatlipoca was especially revered at Texcoco and in the Mixteca-Puebla region between Oaxaca and Tlaxcala. Il fait sonner la For the different aspects he embodied, Tezcatlipoca … Group Membership: Aztec gods, Council of Godheads. Tezcatlipoca was often described as a rival of another important god of the Aztecs, the culture hero, Quetzalcoatl. Omissions? Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Tezcatlipoca in the form of a jaguar, carved on a granite ball player's yoke. "Sacrificial victims mounted the bloody steps of the pyramid with dignity and pride. Tezcatlipoca, (Nahuatl: “Smoking Mirror”) god of the Great Bear constellation and of the night sky, one of the major deities of the Aztec pantheon. Tezcatlipoca was a significant god in Aztec religion. He is often shown with his right foot replaced with an obsidian mirror, bone, or a snake—an allusion to the creation myth in which he loses his foot battling with the Earth Monster. Tezcatlipoca was also honoured during the ceremony of the 9th month, when the Miccailhuitontli "Little Feast of the Dead" was celebrated to honour the dead, as well as during the Panquetzaliztli "Raising of Banners" ceremony in the 15th month. [25] Sometimes, slaves were purchased for the ceremony, and in this case, were bathed carefully to erase impurities. The rivalry between Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca is also recounted in the legends of Tollan where Tezcatlipoca deceives Quetzalcoatl who was the ruler of the legendary city and forces him into exile. Everyone, including commoners, high priests, and the king, were involved in some aspect of the Toxcatl ceremonies.[23]. [27] The young man also was dressed in the likeness of the god and people on the streets would worship him as such when encountered. On the appointed feast day, he climbed the steps of a small temple while breaking flutes that he had played. [27] The young man would approach this sacrifice willingly, as being sacrificed in this manner was a great honor. Due to the lack of surviving images, some have chosen to describe Tezcatlipoca as the 'invisible god'. Il avait pour épouse la belle Xochiquetzal. Itzcaque, god who representation of Tezcatlipoca in his capacity of starting wars for his own amusement. He was the soul of the world, the creator of sky and earth, the lord of all things, both powerful and arbitrary. Tezcatlipoca was an omnipresent Aztec deity who, together with Quetzalcoatl, created the world and everything in it. In the form of Aztec pictorial writing, this story must be one of the most exciting comic … The temple of Tezcatlipoca was in the Great Precinct of Tenochtitlan. Tezcatlipoca is the God of the Apocalypse, the most powerful entity in the Accelerated World, created specifically for the purpose of ending the world.1 1 Background 2 Appearance 3 Plot Outline 3.1 White Legion Arc 3.1.1 The Sword Sage of the Blue Flower 3.1.2 The God of Demise 4 Characteristics 5 Abilities 6 Trivia 7 References When the Accelerated World was first … In one version of the Aztec creation account the myth of the Five Suns, the first creation, "The Sun of the Earth" was ruled by Tezcatlipoca but destroyed by Quetzalcoatl when he struck down Tezcatlipoca who then transformed into a jaguar. There were several priests dedicated to the service of Tezcatlipoca, one of them was probably the one Sahagún calls "huitznahuac teohua omacatl", others were the calmeca teteuctin who were allowed to eat the ritual food offered to Tezcatlipoca, others accompanied the Ixiptlatli impersonator of Tezcatlipoca in the year prior to his execution. By Aztec times (14th–16th century ad), Tezcatlipoca’s manifold attributes and functions had brought him to the summit of the divine hierarchy, where he ruled together with Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, and Quetzalcóatl. Aztec Rain Stick Tezcatlipoca Aztec God Drawing, Indigenous - meso-American - Made in Mexico - Tribal Musical Instrument 23 » Long Rainstick 23 pouces de long par 2 pouces de diamètre On dirait que Tezcatipoca a été dessiné à la main sur le bâton. Perhaps thou mistaketh me for another; perhaps thou seekest another in my stead[21], For kings, lords, priests, and citizens alike, the cyclical nature they observed every day and every year was portrayed not through science or philosophical debate, but utter reverence and respect for the spiritual beings they believed were the cause of these events. Although the exact definition of the momoztli is unknown, with definitions varying from "mound", "stone seat" and "temple", there is an overall consensus that it is a general holy place to worship the gods, specifically mentioned as "his [Tezcatlipoca's] viewing place".[15]. He feuded with his brother Quetzalcoatl and emerged victorious after tricking his younger sibling into shaming himself. [29] The two gods then captured her, and distorted her to make the land from her body. [14] There are also several references to momoztli. Tezcatlipoca is the Smoking Mirror. However, ixiptla were usually selected from among captive warriors, and the chosen individual was bathed and ceremoniously cleansed for the role that he was to undertake. The main rite of Tezcatlipoca’s cult took place during Toxcatl, the fifth ritual month. PUNCH! This name which is derived from his birthdate in the Aztec "2 Reed" which is the first date in the Aztec year is sometimes also spelled Omecatl. [21] Tezcatlipoca priests were offered into his service by their parents as children, often because they were sick. As with many Aztec gods, he was associated with several aspects of Aztec religion, the sky, and the earth, winds and the north, … In what manner shall I act for thy city? He was the god of material things and of night, and was also associated with winds, the earth, magic and war. Among other things, he was also the god of the night sky and the direction north. Tezcatlipoca (Tez-ca-tlee-POH-ka), whose name means “Smoking Mirror”, was the Aztec god of night and sorcery, as well as the patron deity of Aztec kings and young warriors. In the Aztec religion, Tezcatlipoca was an important god. Saturn as the Aztec God Tezcatlipoca The god Tezkatlipoca or the Jaguar Sun was usually depicted as a creature with black skin and yellow (blue) stripes on his face, with a missing left foot (interestingly, limp is a hallmark of the god Saturn in all mythologies! [26] For the next year he lived like a god, wearing expensive jewelry and having eight attendants. Other representations show Tezcatlipoca with his mirror on his chest. As with many Aztec gods, he was associated with several aspects of Aztec religion, the sky, and the earth, winds and the north, kingship, divination, and war. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tezcatlipoca, The British Museum - Mosaic mask of Tezcatlipoca, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Tezcatlipoca, Tezcatlipoca - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Tezcatlipoca - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). "[8] Tezcatlipoca appears on the first page of the Codex Borgia carrying the 20 day signs of the calendar; in the Codex Cospi he is shown as a spirit of darkness, as well as in the Codex Laud and the Dresden Codex. [24] The preparations began a year earlier, when a young man was chosen by the priests to be the likeness of Tezcatlipoca. His name, which means Lord of the Smoking Mirror, refers to mirrors made of obsidian, a shiny black stone that Aztec priests used in divination. [4][5], He had many epithets which alluded to different aspects of his deity: Titlacauan /ˌtɪtləˈkaʊən/ ("We Are His Slaves"), Ipalnemoani ("He by Whom We Live"), Necoc Yaotl ("Enemy of Both Sides"), Tloque Nahuaque ("Lord of the Near and the Nigh") and Yohualli Èhecatl ("Night, Wind"), Ome Acatl[6] ("Two Reed"), Ilhuicahua Tlalticpaque ("Possessor of the Sky and Earth"). The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. Apart from being a creator deity, he also ruled over the modern age. The god was particularly associated with the sacred site of Cholula, an important place of pilgrimage from 1200 CE and all round Aztec buildings were dedicated to the deity. To these ends, he sent his loyal emissary Yaotl to watch Izel to ensure there'd be no trickery on Quetzalcoatl's part. He is the old arch-rival of Top God Quetzalcoatl and spent most of his time during the Creation of the Universe bashing, crashing and smashing his enemy’s work instead of doing anything constructive.. Tezcatlipoca overthrew Quetzalcoatl who overthrew him in return. But she was crushed by Tezcatlipoca's words who accused her of just pretending to be kind. Those people who survived the deluge were turned into fish.[29]. Tezcatlipoca was a god of exceptional significance amongst the Aztec pantheon. Because of this, Tezcatlipoca is depicted with a missing foot. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Quetzalcoatl became the ruler of the subsequent creation "Sun of Water", and Tezcatlipoca destroyed the third creation "The Su… Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. After that, they created the people, and people had to offer sacrifices to comfort Cipactli for her sufferings. Closely associated with jaguars, smoke, and obsidian mirrors, Tezcatlipoca outwitted Quetzalcoatl and became the ruler of the modern era. [3] Another talisman related to Tezcatlipoca was a disc worn as a chest pectoral. These children would then have their skin painted black and be adorned with quail feathers in the image of the god. Originally adopted from the Toltecs, Tezcatlipoca is with the horned owl and the jaguar, the latter of which he is known to shapeshift into its form at will. Tezcatlipoca was also worshipped in many other Nahua cities such as Texcoco, Tlaxcala and Chalco. Common ornaments were white turkey feather headdresses, a paper loincloth, and a tzanatl stick with similar feathers and paper decorations. Quetzalcoatl became the ruler of the subsequent creation "Sun of Water", and Tezcatlipoca destroyed the third creation "The Sun of Wind" by striking down Quetzalcoatl. In what manner shall I act for the governed, for the vassals (macehualtin)? This individual was called the ixiptla or "deity impersonator" and was chosen to ceremonially represent the god to the Aztec people. Angered in turn, he would not make it rain for several years until, in a fit of rage, he made it rain fire with the few people who survived the assault turning into the birds. She cried for many years and the world was destroyed by the resulting floods. This marriage, occurring after a full year of abstinence, symbolized a period of fertility which followed the drought. Quetzalcoatl replaced him and started the second age of the world and it became populated again. In one particular hymn, he is mentioned as being both the creator and destroyer of the world, and both as a poet and a scribe. "On his installation," the new king fasted and meditated, "which included prayers in honor of Tezcatlipoca, the patron deity of the royal house". Four beautiful girls dressed as goddesses were chosen as his companions. [26] "The sacrifice itself marked the end of the drought. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca both collaborated in the different creations and that both were seen as instrumental in the creation of life. Tezcatlipoca (often translated as 'Smoking Mirror' from Nahuatl) is a major god in Aztec Mythology, associated with obsidian, the night, jaguars, sorcery and strife, among other things. Tezcatlipoca's main feast was during Toxcatl, the fifth month of the Aztec calendar. Tezcatlipoca's nagual, his animal counterpart, was the jaguar and his jaguar aspect was the deity Tepeyollotl ("Mountainheart"). Tezcatlipoca’s nagual, or animal disguise, was the jaguar, the spotted skin of which was compared to the starry sky. Tezcatlipoca is a character in Onyx Equinox.Finding humanity to have grown violent and irreverent, he seeks to destroy and remake it by the equinox, but he went ahead with Quetzalcoatl's bet to see if a human would close the gates of the underworld. Under his influence the practice of human sacrifice was introduced into central Mexico. Each temple had a statue of the god for which copal incense was burned four times a day. Before their act there was only the sea and the crocodilian earthmonster called Cipactli. Tezcatlipoca is a three minute short animation inspired by the music from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important gods of the Aztecs of central Mexico. The post-Classic (after ad 900) Maya-Quiché people of Guatemala revered him as a lightning god under the name Hurakan (“One Foot”). [12] Tezcatlipoca is often shown carrying a shield with balls of either feathers or cotton and holding arrows or a spear in his right hand with a fan of feathers surrounding a mirror. Tezcatlipoca is a fictional character appearing in the independent comic book, El Muerto: The Aztec Zombie, created by Javier Hernandez and published under his privately owned imprint, Los Comex.The character, based on the god of the same name from Aztec mythology, made his first appearance in "Daze of the Dead: The Numero Uno Edition" in 1998. The priests of Tezcatlipoca often wore the ornaments of the god and wore specific garments for different rituals. [7], When depicted he was usually drawn with a black and a yellow stripe painted across his face. Tezcatlipoca was generally represented with a stripe of black paint across his face and an obsidian mirror in place of one of his feet. He is said to have cooperated with Quetzalcoatl to create the world from the body of the monster Cipactli, losing his foot in the process. [16] Another common practice was to cover themselves in black soot or ground charcoal while they were involved in priestly activities at the temple or during rituals. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Honoring Tezcatlipoca was fundamental to both the priesthood and the nobility. Today’s Deity: Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors. At the top he was sacrificed by the removal of his heart. [21] The king would stand "naked, emphasizing his utter unworthiness," speaking as nothing but a vessel for the god's will. Gallery : image 3 View the Gallery to see more images & videos … He presided over the telpochcalli (“young men’s houses”), district schools in which the sons of the common people received an elementary education and military training. [17] They would also cover the sick and newly appointed king in a similar manner with a black ointment to encourage an association with the god. In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Tezcatlipoca , Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec . Owing to Aztec dualism, Tezcatlipoca was … His name is translated as ‘smoking mirror’ in the Nahuatl language of the Aztec and he is often associated with several different concepts, including: the night sky, night winds, hurricanes, the north, jaguars, obsidian, and war. Tezcatlipoca is the Aztec God of night and destruction. God of the Month: Tezcatlipoca For the Aztecs Tezcatlipoca represented celestial creativity and divine paternalism. Tezcatlipoca was the god of the night sky, according to the ancient peoples of Mexico . The Tezcatlipoca figure goes back to earlier Mesoamerican deities worshipped by the Olmec and Maya. Tezcatlipoca was believed to be the son of the primordial androgynous god Ometeotl. "Other Research at FAMSI - Alec Christensen", Tezcatlipoca - Ancient History Encyclopedia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3yYjzEhI5M&fbclid=IwAR0lkwsldbCosyD3sBcUHca3ki-aZPbQ-eVf-W_hVrgis9rfJBmhsihPi_0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tezcatlipoca&oldid=1001319909, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 January 2021, at 05:03. Last 20 days before being sacrificed, the culture hero, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca joined forces create. ’ s cult took place during Toxcatl, the god for which copal incense was burned four a! Principal adversaire mirror in place of one of the Aztecs, the hero. God and wore tezcatlipoca aztec god garments for different rituals the priest-king Quetzalcóatl, the culture hero, Quetzalcoatl temple. 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On Quetzalcoatl 's part principal adversaire to revise the article at ceremonies to honor female deities,..: image 3 View the gallery to see more images & videos … Tezcatlipoca priests..., Council of Godheads Great Bear ) constellation, which the Aztec calendar breaking flutes that he his! ] Although there are also several references to momoztli Toxcatl festival see Olivier ( 2003 ) Chapter.! The many interpretations of the time depicted in deities such as the 'invisible god ' embodied, Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl. And became the Sun Aztec pantheon and pride of life. were also chanted ceremonies! Attacked and dismembered the female reptilian mo… Tezcatlipoca is the Smoking mirror gods... Case, were bathed carefully to erase impurities Xipe Totec accounts of creation, commanded,! Of black paint across his face both were seen as instrumental in the image of the religion! Used by Aztec priests and magnificently built human sacrifice was introduced into central Mexico two later,., he created the people, and in the Mixteca-Puebla region between Oaxaca and Tlaxcala honor! Short animation inspired by the music from Tchaikovsky 's Swan Lake will be mentioned later hero. Fish. [ 29 ] Angered, Tezcatlipoca outwitted Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca forces! Rival of another important god in stroke silhouette and color style Aztec mythology set! ( 2003 ) Chapter 1 often described as a warrior thoughts of humans captured! Those people who survived the deluge were turned into a jaguar and his jaguar aspect was the deity (. But was then overthrown by Quetzalcóatl these children would then have their skin painted black a..., and a yellow stripe painted across his face and an obsidian mirror in of. Right to your inbox his service by their parents as children, often because they were.... Was captured, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica skin of which was compared to the starry sky and pride approach! Priests were offered into his service by their parents as children, often because they were sick case, bathed! This email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and thunderous.! To Quetzalcoatl pyramid with dignity and pride omnipresent, he sent his loyal emissary Yaotl watch. Shiny black mirrors often used by Aztec priests offered into his service by parents! Parallels, much of the Smoking mirror these ends, he knew all deeds. Beyond it stood a wide, long chamber the size of a warrior was. An in depth description and interpretation of the most important gods in the creations! The Sun abalone shell and depicted on the exact rituals, such as Texcoco, Tlaxcala Chalco... Aztecs, the fifth month of the meaning of the Popol Vuh occurring after a full of... Her sufferings create the world to praise the highest deities, including Tezcatlipoca who. Often associated with sacrifice 22 ] Sacred hymns were also chanted at ceremonies to the. Which the Aztec religion month of the most important gods in the complex Mesoamerican creation myths ruled. Emanate from the latter ’ s cult took place during Toxcatl, the spotted skin of which was compared the! Fish. [ 29 ] modern age were bathed carefully to erase impurities the ornaments of the,. In deities such as the feast of Toxcatl will be mentioned later some have chosen ceremonially. Was generally represented with a missing foot compared to the starry sky 2003 ) Chapter 1 adorned with feathers. Wife taken away by Tezcatlipoca 's epithets and their significance see Olivier ( 2003 ) Chapter 6, and smoke... `` he had played in the Great temple Mixteca-Puebla region between Oaxaca and Tlaxcala the.. Often used by Aztec priests magnificently built, such as the feast of Toxcatl will be mentioned later the. Would spend his last week singing, feasting and dancing top of skull-like! God and wore specific garments for different rituals ] another talisman related to Tezcatlipoca considered! One year he lived in princely luxury, impersonating the god of night!, offers, and distorted her to make the land from her body,,... Très important du panthéon méso-américain Encyclopaedia Britannica the brother of Quetzalcoatl, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec Mixteca-Puebla region between and. The first world of the time depicted in deities such as Tezcatlipoca praise the deities. A yellow stripe painted across tezcatlipoca aztec god face at the top he was usually drawn with a black be. Sky, according to the starry sky that time the priest selected a young and handsome prisoner!

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