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Tezcatlipoca : The Night God

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At a glance

Description
Origin Aztec Mythology
Classification Gods
Family Members Ometecuhtli (Mother), Omecihuatl (Father), Huitzilopochtli, Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec (Brothers)
Region Mexico
Associated With Human Sacrifice, Night Sky, Jaguar

Tezcatlipoca

Introduction

One of the most important deities of the Aztecs is Tezcatlipoca, who is also known as the Smoking Mirror god. His cult was first brought to central Mexico during the 10th century by the Toltec warriors.

Various myths claim that Tezcatlipoca exiled the Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, from his home at Tula. He was a protean wizard who used black magic to kill many Toltecs and force the Quetzalcoatl to drink and sin, which ended the region’s golden age. Tezcatlipoca’s influence eventually led to the introduction of human sacrifice in Mexico.

The animal disguise that Tezcatlipoca used was the spotted skin of his jaguar, which was compared to the sky. He was the creator god of the first world, Ocelotonatiuh, which was destroyed before the universe was created.

Physical Traits

Due to the destruction of Codexes by priests, there are only a few surviving depictions of Tezcatlipoca. Some have called him an “invisible god,” though this doesn’t mean that there can’t be generalizations about his appearance.

Tezcatlipoca is often depicted with a missing left leg, as well as a smoking mirror and a black horizontal band across his eyes.The color black is associated with the Tezcatlipoca, and he is often depicted with horizontal bands all over his face, especially in yellow and black. There are also various portrayals of his body being black.

Most commonly, he is depicted wearing a heron feather headdress and various other accessories, including a leather band around his neck and ankles, as well as an armband and bells around his neck and shoulders. In various depictions, Tezcatlipoca is depicted with a shield made of either cotton or feathers, and he holds a spear or arrow in his right hand, surrounded by a fan of feathers.

Family

He ruled during the modern age, taking over from his brother, Quetzalcoatll, through trickery. The Aztecs offered him yearly human sacrifices, similar to what they did with Xipe Totec. Despite the lack of a hierarchy in the Aztec pantheon, Tezcatlopoca managed to stand out from his peers. According to the Codex, he was the greatest and the worst of the three sons of the Aztec creator deities, Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl.

Other names

The Nahuatl version of his name refers to his connection to the material used to make mirrors, which were used in prophecy and shamanic ceremonies.

Among the various epithets given to him were Titlacauan or We Are His Slaves, Ipalnemoani which meant He by Whom We Live, and Necoc Yaotl meaning Enemy of Both Sides. He was also called Tloque Nahuaque or the Lord of the Near and the Nigh, while his other name Yohualli Ehecatl meant Night Wind.

Powers and Abilities

Many believed that Tezcatlipoca could transform into a jaguar due to his ability to shapeshift. One of his most powerful qualities was his omnipresence. During his time, people often claimed to have encountered him while looking at a large cat.

He was often depicted in mirrors, though his power was far beyond that of any mirror. The use of mirrors was also not limited to their reflective capabilities. Tezcatlipoca performed ritual blood-letting and human sacrifice with the help of obsidian blades.

All of these rituals were connected to Tezcatlipoca. Whether it was through a censer or a natural source, such as a hot spring, the presence of smoke and steam was associated with him. During a clear day, Popocatépetl, which is an active volcano, could be seen from the city. This would have allowed Tezcatlipoca to keep an eye on the Tenochtitlan.

Modern Day Influence

Although Tezcatlipca was a recurring character in Soul Eater, he was very different from the Aztec deity. In the band Mastodon’s song “Jaguar God,” the group referenced the character in its lyrics. The words “Smoking mirrors black” and “Lord of the Near and the Near” were also directly linked to the deity.

Tezcatlipoca is a character in Fate Grand Order, a mobile game. In Tokyo Afterschool Summoners, he is one of the main antagonists, and in 1984, he was featured as an antagonist in the comic Wonder Woman as part of the DC Universe.

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Which Aztec deity was often depicted with a flayed human skin representing rebirth and renewal? Was it Quetzalcoatl or Xipe Totec?

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Which Aztec deity was often depicted with a flayed human skin representing rebirth and renewal? Was it Quetzalcoatl or Xipe Totec?

Take our Aztec Mythology quiz and see how well you know this Meso American Mythology.

No one has managed to score over 63%. Could you go higher?