Mictlantecuhtli: God of Death or God of Life in Aztec Mythology

Mictlantecuhtli

One of the most obvious dichotomies in many cultures is that between life and death. In most religions, the conversion of life to death is something linear: one goes from the living world to the world of the dead. Mictlantecuhtli is the god of death in Aztec religion but wasn’t so fond of such straightforward …

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Tlaloc: The Rain God of the Aztecs

Tlaloc

An often-used phrase in Mesoamerican (environmental) politics is la agua es vida: water is life. Even the Aztecs had a strong emphasis on water, and any deity that is related to this realm was per definition of great importance. The Aztec god Tlaloc was no different. Some of the most important Aztec temples have been …

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Quetzalcoatl: The Feathered Serpent Deity of Ancient Mesoamerica 

Quetzalcoatl

Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec …

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The 23 Most Important Aztec Gods and Goddesses

aztec gods

The Aztec empire, known back then as the Mexica, ruled central and southern Mexico for more than 250 years, between 1300 and 1541 AD. The empire brought together, through, trade, force, and tribute, countless different societies from the region of Mesoamerica, creating a melting pot of culture. How Many Gods Did the Aztecs Have? A …

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