Xochiquetzal was the protector of prostitutes, and she oversaw women’s crafts such as weaving and embroidery. Anthropologist Hugo Nutini identifies her with the Virgin of Ocotlan in his article on patron saints in Tlaxcala. Because part of her had been used to ensure that future generations of human children would be born, she had a vested interest in the process. Xochiquetzal is the goddess of youth, love, pleasure and beauty. The cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica were all closely related and their deities very closely followed archetypes that had existed for hundreds of years. The goddess of the moon moves swiftly across the sky…seemingly visiting different planetary lovers along the way, before returning to stay with her solar husband for several days each month. Among her worshippers were the craftsmen who made luxury items for the Aztec elite. This made her a patroness of craftsmen and artisans who created the expensive items valued by the upper class. Xiuhtecuhtli – This was the god of heat and fire. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Xochiquetzal, Aztecs at Mexicolore - Goddess of the Month: Xochiquetzal. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The cycle of the moon also shared the symbolic growing roundness that made spindles a symbol of Xochiquetzal. To the Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, however, “maiden” had implications of chastity and virtue. The sun goddess cried for fifty-two years. She watches over artists while they work. Xochiquetzal was a female fertility goddess. In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal was one of many goddesses of fertility. She also wore a large number of bracelets and necklaces. Thus, they linked a goddess of desire to the Virgin Mary. Xochiquetzal, (Nahuatl: “Precious Feather Flower”) Aztec goddess of beauty, sexual love, and household arts, who is also associated with flowers and plants. Water and the moon were closely linked in ancient Mesoamerican religions because the moon influenced the tides. The more neutral description of this deity as the "Great Goddess… Pronunciation of Xochiquetzal with 2 audio pronunciations, 2 meanings, 2 translations and more for Xochiquetzal. As a fertility goddess, Xochiquetzal was also connected to the moon. The clothing and jewelry she was shown with were so luxurious that Xochiquetzal became the patroness of such items. The use of her hair in creating women, for example, is probably tied to the fact that the Mayan Goddess I’s pictographic representation is a lock of hair. According to Aztec legend, the world was created by four gods. She was the Aztec goddess who promoted fertility for the sake of sexual pleasure. For example, she is closely linked to Tezcatlipoca, the god of the night sky. Offerings of flowers and libations were given to Xochiquetzal. Xochitl is a day for creating things that speak truth to the heart. Xochiquetzal originated as a Mayan goddess of love and beauty. 1161 + Follow - Unfollow Posted on: Jun 24, 2020 . Marigolds are sacred to her. Unfortunately, gaps in the historical record mean that few details survive about Xochiquetzals’s cult. According to some legends, Xochipilli was punished for this by being turned into a scorpion. Oct 25, 2013 - Explore Stephanie Fine's board "xochiquetzal", followed by 112 people on Pinterest. This was both because of the association with weaving and femininity and the symbolism of the round, growing spindle representing pregnancy. Xochiquetzal, however, was shown as young. Xochiquetzal was called “maiden” simply to denote a young woman, in contrast to other goddesses. Celebrate Xochiquetzal Aztec Goddess of Love, Beauty, Flowers and Household Arts Wednesday, July 31, 2019, 7:30 p.m. New Moon in Leo Concord Locale, directions given upon RSVP $30 per ritual/$15 first time visit . Xochiquetzal is the Aztec Goddess of flowers and the creative arts. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the Americas, one of their missions was to convert the “heathen” natives to their own religion. Keep reading to learn about the Aztec goddess of love and the surprising way she has survived in the modern era! It is a day to remember that life is short, and to reflect. Xochiquetzal was the Aztec goddess of beauty, love, pleasure, and flowers. 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. In 1983, Karl Taube termed this goddess the "Teotihuacan Spider Woman". Among all of these, Xochiquetzal was the only one to be shown as a young woman. The priests believed his account because he was a faithful altar server in their church. In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal, also called Ichpochtli, meaning "maiden", 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 mythology, she came from Tamoanchán, the verdant paradise of the west. Eloise Quiñones Keber (2000). The two worked together to make the world fertile. Leave a comment I’ve put this off far too long, with so much else going on in my life, but I wanted to at least get a short bit in, so here’s a quick biography of Xochiquetzal, an Aztec goddess similar to Aphrodite, with a touch of Hera and Athena. The goddess of desire was likened to the mother of god, a comparison that is still seen in Mexican representations of the Virgin Mary to this day. She's often shown wearing gold jewelry and a crown of flowers. In some areas, she was identified with Chalchiuhtlicue, goddess of fresh water. In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal was one of many goddesses of fertility. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Tlaloc, whose festival included her rites, was the god of water. Xochiquetzal: An Aztec Goddess of Beauty. According to Aztec mythology, she came from Tamoanchán, the verdant paradise of the west. Her brother Xochipilli is also into flower power. This man and woman had a son named Pilcetecli. Xochiquetzal or Precious Flower, is the ever-youthful Mexica Goddess Originally the wife of Tlaloc, the rain god, she was She continued to evolve, however, into an image of the mother of Christ in the Catholic faith. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) This also made Xochiquetzal the patroness of childbirth. she was also the aztec goddesss called the great goddess or teotihuacan spider woman. In Aztec culture, this name had referred only to her age. Pilcetecli’s marriage to this woman was the first to take place. Unlike most, however, she was shown as young and beautiful and was thus linked to desire and attraction as well as procreation. Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec, and Huitzilopochtli worked together to create the earth and the first man and woman to live there. The link between Xochiquetzal, flowers, and sexuality was not an arbitrary one. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Xochiquetzal’s name incorporates the word xochitl, or “flower.” Flowers were, in fact, central to her imagery. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. His characteristic features were strikingly similar to Xochiquetzal was renowned as the most beautiful of all the Aztec Gods. There, she would meet with Ichabod's and Calamity'sadoptive mother and ask her for help. This further connected it to the idea of pregnancy and, thus, childbirth and femininity. 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.... Xochiquetzal, illustration from the Codex Fejérváry-Mayer. This was the name of the Aztec goddess of love, flowers and the earth, the twin sister of Xochipilli. Xochiquetzal was reunited with Tlaloc but could never go to earth. She represented beauty, pleasure, and desire in addition to childbirth and marriage. Like many aspects of her iconography, this also emphasized her high status. Many of Xochiquetzal’s attributes and myths were likely taken from the Mayan religion. In particular, Tlaloc and Texcatlipoca vied over marriage to her. Tezcatlipoca – The god of the night sky was also one of the four principle creator gods of. He kidnapped Xochiquetzal and forced her to marry him instead. This apparition of Mary was said to have been seen in 1541. Piltzintecuhtli – He was the god of the sunrise, healing, and hallucinogenic drugs. However tenuous these links were, they provided a way for missionaries to make their religion feel familiar to the Mexican people. She was associated with pleasure and attraction in addition to, or perhaps more than, motherhood and the creation of a family. She wore a colorful, detailed gown, a mantle of precious quetzal feathers, and the sandals that were indicative of the upper classes. Xochiquetzal is unique amongst Aztec goddesses in that she was always portrayed as a young woman. Her name means 'Precious Feather Flower' in the Nahuatl language. She was officially canonized by the Pope in 1909 and is now the patron saint of the states of Puebla and Tlaxcala. She was also the ancestress of all women because her hair was used to make a wife for the first man born on earth. According to the Aztecs, Xochiquetzal was the goddess of beauty, pleasure, and love. The goddess’s many supposed husbands link her to the moon and other heavenly bodies. It also influenced women’s menstrual cycles and fertilized the land, giving it important connections to goddesses of fertility and motherhood. She was thought to not only have dominion over the desire and love that created children, but to also watch over pregnant women and protect them in childbirth. When Spanish missionaries arrived in the New World, they linked the youth and beauty of Xochiquetzal to that of the Virgin Mary. It is a day to remember that life is short, and to reflect. There they found a statue in the likeness of the Virgin Mary. Xochiquetzal is less directly connected to the moon in surviving myths and images, but some remnants of the belief can still be seen in surviving legends. Xochiquetzal was an Aztec goddess of beauty, enchantment, and sensuality. Unlike many ofthe Aztec Goddesses who are assigned to the agricultural responsibilities only, she embodies life itself and all of the pleasures, excesses and enjoyment of physical expression. Her name means “flower precious feather”. Her association with markers of status was not the only thing that set Xochiquetzal apart, however. Instead, she was confined to the gods’ land of origin, Tamoanchan, which bloomed with flowers but was otherwise cold and desolate. They had the features of older, married women. She was also shown with rich clothing, jewelry, and other finery. Legend says that Juan Diego, a Catholic convert who worked at a Franciscan monastery, was fetching water from a spring to take to his family, who had fallen ill during an epidemic. They used Xochiquetzal’s hair to fashion the second woman. Frequently referred to as a facet of the female divine goddess, Tonacacíhuatl, from whose womb the first four Aztec gods were born, Xochiquetzal witnessed the creation of gods and humans. The two are often shown together in art and share many attributes. What does survive, however, shows us that Xochiquetzal was a goddess who was revered by many people and loved by many gods. Pasztory concluded that the figures represented a vegetation and fertility goddess that was a predecessor of the much later Aztec goddess Xochiquetzal. Tlaloc was successful and Tezcatlipoca was forced to let Xochiquetzal return to him. Her name means “Precious Feather Flower.” She was pictured wearing a headband of flowers and colorful feathers. In this way she is related to the Ahuiateteo and excess. Her sacrifices were made during the festival of Hueypachtli, which was held in honor of the god Tlaloc. Most Aztec gods and goddesses had a similar origin. Tezcatlipoca held Xochiquetzal in his realm and challenged any of the other gods to come retrieve her. All that is known of her family is that she was the twin sister of Xochipilli. Weaving also played a role in the sacrifices made in Xochiquetzal’s honor. By the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, most of Europe had been Christianized for a thousand years. Because there were no other humans, however, Pilcetecli had no woman to marry. Tlaloc took up this challenge and journeyed to Tezcatlipoca’s home to rescue his wife. She is a patron of artists. She was also shown with other hallmarks of female beauty. English: In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal, also called Ichpuchtli, 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. Her peers, like Coatlicue, were usually shown as matrons. They made crops grow and brought life to both people and the earth. Xochipilli was the god of art, music, and dance. Many anthropologists believe that Xochiquetzal evolved from a Mayan deity known only as Goddess I. Pictures of Xochiquetzal often show her holding flowers with quetzal bird feathers in her hair. Take a quick interactive quiz on the concepts in The Goddess Xochiquetzal in Aztec Mythology or print the worksheet to practice offline. 3518 . In surviving myths, Xochiquetzal is romantically linked to many gods. Her name is made up of two components in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, xochi, 'flower', and quetzal, 'feather' or 'precious thing', especially the feathers of the bird called the quetzal, which has long green-blue iridescent tail feathers which were much used by the Aztecs in ornament. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. All women inherited their beauty and desirability from her. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Chalchiuhtlicue was a sensitive goddess and this accusation hurt her greatly. To promote their own religion, the Spanish missionaries turned to one of the tactics that had been used in the Roman Empire and the early medieval era in their own homeland. Corrections? She usually had large earrings, another symbol of status in Mesoamerican cultures. A wooden statue of the Virgin of Ocotlán remains the focal point of the local church. They went to the stream that night and found a fire that burned brightly but did not consume the trees. Counted among the most important of Aztec gods (and Mesoamerican divine entities), Quetzalcoatl, regarded as the son of… Tlaloc, (Nahuatl: “He Who Makes Things Sprout”) Aztec rain god. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Aztec pantheon had many goddesses who were associated with fertility. Casa Xochiquetzal, named after the Aztec goddess of beauty and sexual love, opened its doors in 2006 for those whose stories are linked by violence and abuse, damage and loss She watches over artists while they work. He was also a god of love, although he was specifically associated with homosexuality and prostitution rather than fertility. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Most religions thought of the moon as feminine and connected to intimacy at night. Because Christianity was monotheistic, they recast the gods of Ireland, Eastern Europe, and other regions as saints, angels, and demons. Xochiquetzal, (Nahuatl: “Precious Feather Flower”) Aztec goddess of beauty, sexual love, and household arts, who is also associated with flowers and plants. Tezcatlipoca, however, was jealous of Tlaloc’s beautiful wife. Xochiquetzal, beautiful Aztec goddess of love, pleasure, flowers, and vegetation, is the lady of birds and butterflies, the very essence of youthful female sexuality and generative, creative power. Most fertility goddesses in Mesoamerican cultures were shown as matrons. It has been suggested that weavers had a reputation in Aztec culture for promiscuity. Without another woman, the human race would die out, so the gods looked for a way to create a bride for Pilcetecli. Centeotl – The god of maize, he was likely connected to her because of their shared domain over fertility. As part of the Roman Empire, Spain had been introduced to Christianity early in that religion’s history. According to the Aztecs, Xochiquetzal was the goddess of beauty, pleasure, and love. Not long after Amaroq lost his tail and left McCoy, she took Kitty to Hollow. See more ideas about aztec art, mayan, mayan art. 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