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Why was Tlaloc so important to the Aztecs?
The rain god was among the most important of the Aztec deities, governing the spheres of water, fertility, and agriculture. Tlaloc oversaw crop growth, especially maize, and the regular cycle of the seasons. He ruled over the 13-day sequence in the 260-day ritual calendar beginning with the day Ce Quiauitl (One Rain).
What did Tlaloc do for the Aztecs?
To the Aztecs, Tlaloc was one of the most important gods in their pantheon. Ruler of rain and lightning, Tlaloc brought fertility to the crops and the people. Many of his followers referred to him as ”the provider,” but they also feared his temperamental nature.
Who was the Aztec god Tlaloc?
rain god
Tlaloc, (Nahuatl: “He Who Makes Things Sprout”) Aztec rain god. Representations of a rain god wearing a peculiar mask, with large round eyes and long fangs, date at least to the Teotihuacán culture of the highlands (3rd to 8th century ad).
What was the Aztecs favorite god?
Huitzilopochtli (pronounced Weetz-ee-loh-POSHT-lee) was the patron god of the Aztecs. During the great migration from their legendary home of Aztalan, Huitzilopochtli told the Aztecs where they should establish their capital city of Tenochtitlan and urged them on their way.
How was Tlaloc honored?
The Aztec held many festivals in honor of Tlaloc, which included the sacrifice of children. The tears of the children were viewed as a good omen of rains for the harvest.
How was Tlaloc often drawn?
He was often drawn with feathers and holding a scepter made from a snake. Tlaloc – Tlaloc was the god of rain and water. Tlaloc was worshiped at the Great Temple in the city of Tenochtitlan and also at the top of a tall mountain named Mount Tlaloc. He was often drawn with fangs and big goggle-like eyes.
What did the Aztecs fear would happen every 52 years?
What did the Aztecs fear would happen every 52 years? What could be done to avoid that? They would extinguish religious fires and destroy furniture and belongings and go into mourning.
Is there a Mexican god?
Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-atl), “the Feathered Serpent”, is probably the most famous Aztec deity and is known in many other Mesoamerican cultures such as Teotihuacan and the Maya. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatlipoca. He was the patron of knowledge and learning and also a creative god.
Why was tezcatlipoca important to the Aztecs?
Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important gods of the Aztecs of central Mexico. The patron god of helpless folk such as orphans and slaves, he was also the patron of royalty, and he gloried in war and human sacrifice.
What was the most precious commodity in Aztec society?
Both Anthony Aveni and Manuel Aguilar-Moreno considered human blood itself to be ‘the most precious offering that they could give to the gods: with the energy of the blood they could nourish the gods and help them to continue providing life and fertility to the world…’ (MA-M), ‘for it was the blood of sacrifice that …
What did the Aztec game patolli symbolize?
What did the patolli board symbolize? The board symbolized the 260-day calendar, which the Aztecs shared with the Mayas and other Mesoamerican peoples.
What could be done to avoid that Aztec?
What could be done to avoid that? They would extinguish religious fires and destroy furniture and belongings and go into mourning. What did the Aztecs believe would happen to them upon death? They would be reincarnated or disembodied spirits.
Where did the Aztec god Tlaloc come from?
Tlaloc was thought to live on the top of the mountains, especially the ones always covered by clouds; and from there he sent down revivifying rains to the people below. Rain gods are found in most Mesoamerican cultures, and the origins of Tlaloc can be traced back to Teotihuacan and the Olmec.
What did Tlaloc look like in Aztec art?
In Aztec iconography, Tlaloc is usually depicted with goggle eyes and fangs. He is most often coupled with lightning, maize, and water in visual representations and artwork. Offerings dedicated to Tlaloc in Tenochtitlan were known to include several jaguar skulls and even a complete jaguar skeleton.
What was the name of Tlaloc’s first wife?
In either case, Tlaloc was a powerful god existing from the earliest times in Ometeotl’s paradise of Tamoanchan. His first wife was the goddess of youth, beauty, and fertility, named Xochiquetzal.
Where was the shrine of Tlaloc located in Mexico?
Mountain Shrines. The most sacred shrine of Tlaloc was located on the top of Mount Tlaloc, an extinct volcano located east of Mexico City. Archaeologists investigating on the top of the mountain have identified the architectural remains of an Aztec temple which seem to have been aligned with the Tlaloc shrine at the Templo Mayor.