Tepoztecatl
Encyclopedia
In Aztec mythology
, Tepoztecatl (or Tezcatzontecatl) was the god of pulque
, of drunkenness and fertility. The deity was also known by his calendrical
name, Ometochtli (2 Rabbit). He is a consort of Mayahuel
, who is a mask-avatar of Xochiquetzal
.
According to Aztec myth, Tepoztecatl was one of the Centzon Totochtin
, the four hundred children of Mayahuel
, the goddess of the maguey plant, and Patecatl
, the god that discovered the fermentation process. As a deity of pulque, Tepoztecatl was associated with fertility cults and Tlaloc
. Tepoztecatl was also associated with the wind, hence deriving an alternative name of Ehecacone, son of the wind.
Tepoztecatl appears in the Mendoza Codex carrying a copper axe.
El Tepozteco
, in the Mexican state of Morelos
, is an archaeological site named after the deity. The site was a sacred place for pilgrims from as far as Chiapas
and Guatemala
. This site has a small pyramid built on a platform 9.5 meters high, located on a mountain overlooking the town of Tepoztlan
.
Aztec mythology
The aztec civilization recognized a polytheistic mythology, which contained the many deities and supernatural creatures from their religious beliefs. "orlando"- History :...
, Tepoztecatl (or Tezcatzontecatl) was the god of pulque
Pulque
Pulque, or octli, is a milk-colored, somewhat viscous alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant, and is a traditional native beverage of Mexico. The drink’s history extends far back into the Mesoamerican period, when it was considered sacred, and its use was limited to...
, of drunkenness and fertility. The deity was also known by his calendrical
Mesoamerican calendars
Mesoamerican calendars are the calendrical systems devised and used by the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. In addition to the basic function of a calendar—defining and organizing periods of time in a way that allows events to be fixed, ordered and noted relative to each other and some...
name, Ometochtli (2 Rabbit). He is a consort of Mayahuel
Mayahuel
Mayahuel is the female divinity associated with the maguey plant among cultures of central Mexico in the Postclassic era of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican chronology, and in particular of the Aztec cultures...
, who is a mask-avatar of Xochiquetzal
Xochiquetzal
In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal was a goddess associated with concepts of fertility, beauty, and female sexual power, serving as a protector of young mothers and a patroness of pregnancy, childbirth, and the crafts practised by women such as weaving and embroidery...
.
According to Aztec myth, Tepoztecatl was one of the Centzon Totochtin
Centzon Totochtin
In Aztec mythology, the Centzon Totochtin are a group of deities who meet for frequent parties; they are divine rabbits, and the gods of drunkenness. Some of their named members include Tepoztecatl, Texcatzonatl, Colhuatzincatl Macuiltochtli and Ometotchtli...
, the four hundred children of Mayahuel
Mayahuel
Mayahuel is the female divinity associated with the maguey plant among cultures of central Mexico in the Postclassic era of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican chronology, and in particular of the Aztec cultures...
, the goddess of the maguey plant, and Patecatl
Patecatl
In Aztec mythology, Patecatl is a god of healing and fertility, and the discoverer of peyoteas well as the "lord of the root of pulque ". With Mayahuel, he was the father of the Centzon Totochtin....
, the god that discovered the fermentation process. As a deity of pulque, Tepoztecatl was associated with fertility cults and Tlaloc
Tlaloc
Tlaloc was an important deity in Aztec religion, a god of rain, fertility, and water. He was a beneficent god who gave life and sustenance, but he was also feared for his ability to send hail, thunder and lightning, and for being the lord of the powerful element of water. In Aztec iconography he...
. Tepoztecatl was also associated with the wind, hence deriving an alternative name of Ehecacone, son of the wind.
Tepoztecatl appears in the Mendoza Codex carrying a copper axe.
El Tepozteco
El Tepozteco
El Tepozteco is an archaeological site in the Mexican state of Morelos. It consists of a small temple to the Aztec god Tepoztecatl, a god of the alcoholic pulque beverage....
, in the Mexican state of Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
, is an archaeological site named after the deity. The site was a sacred place for pilgrims from as far as Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
and Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. This site has a small pyramid built on a platform 9.5 meters high, located on a mountain overlooking the town of Tepoztlan
Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán is a town in the Mexican state of Morelos. It is located at in the heart of the Tepoztlán Valley. The town serves as the seat of government for the municipality of the same name. The town had a population of 14,130 inhabitants, while the municipality reported 41,629 inhabitants in the...
.