The above video will help to to gain knowledge and understanding of Aztec powers and deities
Supernatural Powers and Deities -
'Gods and Goddesses'
The Aztec religion had an exceptionally complex pantheon and it was believed that the Aztec’s worshipped over 1000 Gods. These Gods were split into various groups or categories and each of these groups was responsible for one component of The Universe. Examples of these components include: war and sacrifice, heavens and the sky and lastly fertility and agriculture. The people had plenty of agricultural Gods as their cultural identity was based ponderously on farming, as in order to eat they needed to have a successful harvest each year.
Aztecs had a strong belief in the balance of the natural world,the processes that made life possible such as solar energy and rain and the fate of humanity depended on the will of these Gods. The Aztecs had a very strong belief in pleasing their Gods and gaining rewards for it. Aztecs believed in the balance of the natural world, the processes that make like possible such as rain. The destiny of Aztec people depended on the will of The Gods. Some deities were tender-hearted but others had petrifying characteristics. Amongst the many God’s there are definite deities that stand out and have become more significant in this ancient religious belief.
These very significant and important Powers and Deities include:
‘’Huitzapochtli’’ pronounced Weetsz-ee-loh-potcht-lee
He was the patron God of the Aztecs and during the migration he directed the people to Tenochtitlan which became The Aztecs capital. His name is translated to ‘Hummingbird of the left’ and he was known as the patron God of war and sacrifice. The shrine that Huitzapochtli holds was painted red and decorated in skulls to represent blood and a warrior. His shrine was put onto of The Great Temple of Tenochtilan pyramid.
‘’Tlaloc’’ pronounced Tlà-loc
He was commonly known as the God of rain and is one of the most ancient deities in Mesoamerica. He is associated with agriculture and fertility. His shrine was the second shrine (after Huitzapochtli’s) to be placed on top of the pyramid. It was decorated in blue bands to represent rain and water. The Aztecs believed that the tears of small children were the most sacred thing to Gods. Therefore, many of the ceremonies for Tlaloc involved the sacrifice of small children.
‘’Tonatiuh’’ pronounced Toh-nah-tee-uh.
He was the sun god, a nourishing God that provided warmth and fertility to all. In order to be this nourishing God, The Aztecs believe that he needed the sacrifice of human blood. Tonatiuh was additionally the patron of warriors. In Aztec mythology Tonatiuh governed the era under of the Fifth Sun.
‘’Quetzalcoatl’’ pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-atl
Quetzalcoatl is one of the most well known and worshipped Gods in Aztec mythology. He is the most famous Aztec deity but he is also known in many a range of Mesoamerican cultures such as Maya and Teotihuacan. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatilpoca. He was the patron God of learning and knowledge and is also a symbol of creativity as he was a very creative God.
‘’Xipe Totec’’ pronounced Shee-peh Toh-tek
Xipe Totec was the God of agriculture and fertility as well as the God of the east and goldsmiths. He is usually portrayed wearing a flayed human skin representing the death of the old and the growth of the new vegetation. ‘’Our Lord with the flayed skin’’ is the meaning of Xipe Totec’s name.
‘’Tezcatlipoca’’ pronounced Tez-cah-tlee-poh-ka
He was the patron God of the night and commonly represented the opposite of Quetzalcoatl. The meaning of his name is ‘’Smoking Mirror’’ and he is commonly represented as a great evil power in Aztec mythology. He is a very powerful deity.
‘’Chalchiuhtlicue’’ pronounced Tchal-chee-uh-tlee-ku-eh
She was the Goddess of water and all aquatic elements of The Aztec mythology. She was the patron saint of childbirth and was seen as a symbol of fertility and love. Chalchiuhtlicue was the sister of the God Tlaloc.
‘’Centeotl’’ pronounced Cen-teh-otl-
Centeotl was the God of maize or ‘plant’. The meaning of his name is ‘’maize cob lord’’. He was also very closely related to Tlaloc and is commonly represented as a very young man with a symbolic maize cob on his headdress.
The picture below demonstrates the use of colour and costume used to portray a visual representation of the Aztec Gods and Goddesses. Each God/Goddesses has their own costume and carries something unique to their characteristics.
Supernatural Powers and Deities -
'Gods and Goddesses'
The Aztec religion had an exceptionally complex pantheon and it was believed that the Aztec’s worshipped over 1000 Gods. These Gods were split into various groups or categories and each of these groups was responsible for one component of The Universe. Examples of these components include: war and sacrifice, heavens and the sky and lastly fertility and agriculture. The people had plenty of agricultural Gods as their cultural identity was based ponderously on farming, as in order to eat they needed to have a successful harvest each year.
Aztecs had a strong belief in the balance of the natural world,the processes that made life possible such as solar energy and rain and the fate of humanity depended on the will of these Gods. The Aztecs had a very strong belief in pleasing their Gods and gaining rewards for it. Aztecs believed in the balance of the natural world, the processes that make like possible such as rain. The destiny of Aztec people depended on the will of The Gods. Some deities were tender-hearted but others had petrifying characteristics. Amongst the many God’s there are definite deities that stand out and have become more significant in this ancient religious belief.
These very significant and important Powers and Deities include:
‘’Huitzapochtli’’ pronounced Weetsz-ee-loh-potcht-lee
He was the patron God of the Aztecs and during the migration he directed the people to Tenochtitlan which became The Aztecs capital. His name is translated to ‘Hummingbird of the left’ and he was known as the patron God of war and sacrifice. The shrine that Huitzapochtli holds was painted red and decorated in skulls to represent blood and a warrior. His shrine was put onto of The Great Temple of Tenochtilan pyramid.
‘’Tlaloc’’ pronounced Tlà-loc
He was commonly known as the God of rain and is one of the most ancient deities in Mesoamerica. He is associated with agriculture and fertility. His shrine was the second shrine (after Huitzapochtli’s) to be placed on top of the pyramid. It was decorated in blue bands to represent rain and water. The Aztecs believed that the tears of small children were the most sacred thing to Gods. Therefore, many of the ceremonies for Tlaloc involved the sacrifice of small children.
‘’Tonatiuh’’ pronounced Toh-nah-tee-uh.
He was the sun god, a nourishing God that provided warmth and fertility to all. In order to be this nourishing God, The Aztecs believe that he needed the sacrifice of human blood. Tonatiuh was additionally the patron of warriors. In Aztec mythology Tonatiuh governed the era under of the Fifth Sun.
‘’Quetzalcoatl’’ pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-atl
Quetzalcoatl is one of the most well known and worshipped Gods in Aztec mythology. He is the most famous Aztec deity but he is also known in many a range of Mesoamerican cultures such as Maya and Teotihuacan. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatilpoca. He was the patron God of learning and knowledge and is also a symbol of creativity as he was a very creative God.
‘’Xipe Totec’’ pronounced Shee-peh Toh-tek
Xipe Totec was the God of agriculture and fertility as well as the God of the east and goldsmiths. He is usually portrayed wearing a flayed human skin representing the death of the old and the growth of the new vegetation. ‘’Our Lord with the flayed skin’’ is the meaning of Xipe Totec’s name.
‘’Tezcatlipoca’’ pronounced Tez-cah-tlee-poh-ka
He was the patron God of the night and commonly represented the opposite of Quetzalcoatl. The meaning of his name is ‘’Smoking Mirror’’ and he is commonly represented as a great evil power in Aztec mythology. He is a very powerful deity.
‘’Chalchiuhtlicue’’ pronounced Tchal-chee-uh-tlee-ku-eh
She was the Goddess of water and all aquatic elements of The Aztec mythology. She was the patron saint of childbirth and was seen as a symbol of fertility and love. Chalchiuhtlicue was the sister of the God Tlaloc.
‘’Centeotl’’ pronounced Cen-teh-otl-
Centeotl was the God of maize or ‘plant’. The meaning of his name is ‘’maize cob lord’’. He was also very closely related to Tlaloc and is commonly represented as a very young man with a symbolic maize cob on his headdress.
The picture below demonstrates the use of colour and costume used to portray a visual representation of the Aztec Gods and Goddesses. Each God/Goddesses has their own costume and carries something unique to their characteristics.