The 10 most important Aztec gods

The Aztec culture has in these gods one of the most important elements of its mythology.

Aztec mythology is probably one of the most relevant and richest. It has given rise to books, movies, legends and tales that are still present in our days and that have reaped a legacy of great interest in Latin America, especially Central America, in Mexico. The fundamental belief of the Aztecs revolved around the Sun, whose god was Huitzilopochtli.

As a fact to keep in mind, the Aztec gods are considered "original" characters.They did not have adaptations as the Roman Empire did with Greek culture and mythology, which were copied. Another element to take into account is the degree of expansion of this pre-Hispanic empire: the so-called Triple Alliance of the indigenous peoples of the states of Tlacopan, Texcoco and Tenochtitlan. For this reason, the religion of this culture reached many parts of Central America.

The most relevant Aztec gods

Having a strong predisposition to dogma and worship, the Aztecs also developed a complex system of authority related to physical persons linked to religion. This model of governance was based on positions elected by the king of the day (the Toltec is the best known), with government delegates and advisors from the nobility. Therefore, the Aztec pantheon is a reflection of the hierarchical system of social organization of this pre-Columbian people.

Thus, on the one hand, there was the elite who ruled over the Aztec civilization, and above these people were the divinities who were worshiped in a transversal manner throughout the society belonging to this ethnic group. Are you interested in knowing more about these divine entities? Here are the 10 most interesting and we will see the 10 most interesting and relevant Aztec gods of their mythology..

1. Yacatecuhtli

Interestingly, the Aztecs had the so-called old gods. Yacatecuhtli was one of them. He represented the protection for merchants and travelers.For this reason, the citizens made offerings to him by giving him slaves in exchange for his blessing. What stands out about this deity is the disproportion of his nose, which served as a guide/indication of the direction to follow.

2. Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl is by far one of the most famous Aztec gods. At the time of Aztec cultural hegemony, he was somewhat the god of everything: life, fertility, wisdom, of the day and night, the winds.. He is surely one of the most relevant deities of the Aztecs for all that he represented. As for its physical representation, it is usually described as a kind of snake with feathers and at the same time in human form.

3. Coatlicue

Just like her ancestor, Coatlicue had the shape of a snake (this one in an integral way) with four hands and three heads. She represents life and death at the same time, as a duality of complementary elements, which is why she is considered the goddess of all gods, as well as the spiritual guide of rebirth.

4. Metztli

We continue in the path of the gods with some reptilian characteristics. The name itself means: "the goddess of the snake in the face". She is the goddess of the moon, whose powers, shared with the serpent that guarded her, dominated the water. She provoked chaos and tempestsbut blessed and watered the Aztec regions.

5. Mictlantecuhtli

Totally extravagant and clownish in appearance, he contrasts with what the Aztec deity of death represented. Husband of the goddess of death, Mictlantecuhtli, Mictlantecuhtli was lord and master of the souls that went to his particular "hell", a place of shadows and darkness.a place of shadows and darkness that the Aztecs wanted to avoid at all costs.

This divinity was represented as an anthropomorphic being with a toothed skull for a head, and with very large eyes.

6. Xipe Totec

Painted in red and yellow, with a face of few friends, this deity is the masculinity and virility of the Aztecs.. He also symbolized youth and dawn. He was also the god of abundance, since Xipe was in charge of irrigating the corn fields of the Aztec lands with water.

7. Cihuacoatl

Among the most important Aztec goddesses we find Cihuacoatl, the first deity to give birth, and for this reason she is considered the goddess of birth. The legend also says that it is known as "La Llorona", without knowing its origin.without knowing very well its origin. It is speculated that she cried at the time of her first birth, but this has not been confirmed to date.

8. Ixtlilton

Ixtlilton was a god associated with the concept of leisure, he represented the game and the amusement. He was the patron of Aztec festivities. On the other hand, he was also the god of healing, since he took any injured or sick person to his temple to heal him, as well as to cure newborn children with some deficiency.

9. Ahuiateteo

In this case there is a peculiarity: Ahuiateteo is a group of Aztec gods that represent vice, pleasure and earthly excesses. Together with another group of the Tzitzimime, they formed a conglomerate of deities that represented the opposite of each other.. Thus, the latter were the representatives of death and drought.

10. Xiuhtecuhtli

The figure of Xiuhtecuhtli corresponds to the aforementioned category of ancient Aztec gods. His figure in the form of a warrior and in passionate colors (red and yellow) (red and yellow) gave him that touch of virility that warriors and soldiers were looking for. This deity represented fire and heat, and therefore was highly respected by his parishioners. He was also patron of warriors, kings and the weather.

Bibliographical references:

• Boone, E.H. (2013). Cycles of Time and Meaning in the Mexican Books of Fate. Austin: University of Texas Press.
• Caso, A. (1936). The religion of the Aztecs, Enciclopedia Ilustrada Mexicana, Mexico City, Imprenta Mundial.
• Douglas, D. (2009). The Altlas of Lost Cults and mystery religions. London: Godsfield Press.
• Fernández, A. (1998). Prehispanic Gods of Mexico. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial.
• Jordan, M. (2004). Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses. Washington D.C.: Library of Congress.