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The Mexica (the proper name for the Aztecs) were deeply symbolic people who used metaphor as a vehicle to convey ideas and beliefs. Xipe Totec was a deity of rebirth, agriculture, and spring. Shedding his skin in the manner of the snake in order to introduce a new rejuvenating cycle of life; unfortunately, this is routinely misunderstood as the literal skinning of a person.
The dominant account of history recounts accusations of people being skinned alive and their remains being worn or placed on statues of Xipe Totec. No physical evidence has ever been found to support these claims.
Further, It is important to realize that the accounts of Cortes and other conquistadors, about the Mexica, are politically driven-- they should not be taken without critique or question. In order for Cortes to justify acts of mass murder, such as those committed in Cholula and Tenochtitlan (places that which conquistadors killed several thousand defenseless people), it was necessary to dehumanize the Mexica and to accuse them of unimaginable cruelties and violence.
The sculptural depictions of Xipe Totec portray the god in the process of shedding his own skin, in order to represent new life. And I reiterate that the Mexica were heavily inspired by nature and animals which inhabited their environment along with them-- the snake in particular.
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What are the name of some gods that the ancient Aztecs worship?
some of the name of the ancient Aztec was ometecuhtli, quetzalcoatl, huitzilopochctli(sun god), xipe totec, tlalos (rain god).
What is the Aztec name for the spring god?
Xipe Totec - here is a link of the Aztec Gods.
How many gods did the ancient Aztecs pray to?
The Aztecs had a huge pantheon, of over 100 deities. Some of the these gods were more powerful and better known than other though, such as Quetzalcoatl, Huitzilopochtli, Chalchiutlicue, Xipe Totec, Tlaloc, and Tezcatlipoca.
What were the gods of the Aztec?
According to legends, Aztecs worshipped no less than 200 gods and goddesses. Among these gods were Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, Tonatiuh, Tezcatlipoca, Chalchiuhtlicue, Centeotl, Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec, Mayahuel and Tlaltechutli.
What were the names of the aztec gods?
According to legends, Aztecs worshipped no less than 200 gods and goddesses. Among these gods were Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, Tonatiuh, Tezcatlipoca, Chalchiuhtlicue, Centeotl, Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec, Mayahuel and Tlaltechutli.
Where did the Aztecs go to pray?
They prayed in temples that had alot of stairs.
Who were the mixtec's gods?
The Mixtec people worshiped a variety of gods, including Ehécatl (god of wind and life force), Nuvagaba (god of rain and fertility), and Xipe Totec (god of agriculture and renewal). They also revered important celestial bodies such as the sun and the moon.
What do you call the chief god of the Aztecs?
It's kind of difficult to answer this, because that's generally not how pantheism works.Either Huitzilopoctli (a creator god, and the one who supposedly led them to their capital city) or Quetzlcoatal (another creator god, and the patron of rulers) would be good choices. Other candidates would be Tezcatlipoca (another creator god, but usually regarded as evil) or Xipe Totec (yet another creator god... Aztec mythology was a bit, shall we say, complex).
What did the Aztecs do to make there gods happy?
They danced, chanted, prayed, and sacrificed poeple.
What were the different roles of the rich Aztecs and poor Aztecs?
Well one could not afford as much as the other and they prayed to diffrent gods.
Who are the gods of the Aztec people?
Some of the gods: Huitzilopitchli, the "hummingbird wizard" and sun god. This is the god that the Aztecs offered live beating hearts of sacrificial victims to. He was also the god of war, and the chief Aztec god. Tezcatlipoca, the "god of the smoky mirror"--god of night, war, leaders--he is decorated with obsidian mirrors and can turn into a jaguar. Tlaloc--the god of rain Quetzalcoatl--the "feathered serpent" a peaceful god who abhorred human sacrifice. Post Conquest mythology says that he was said to be a white man and the Aztecs confused Hernan Cortes with Quetzalcoatl. He was the god of the wind. Xipe Totec--the god of vegetative renewal, was depicted as wearing the flayed skin of a sacrificial victim. There are more--check out "Aztec gods" on Wikipedia.org.
What has the author Maurice Cotterell written?
Maurice Cotterell has written: 'The mural of Bonampak' -- subject(s): Pictorial works, Xipe Totec (Aztec deity), Maya mythology, Maya mural painting and decoration 'The lost tomb of Viracocha' -- subject(s): Incas, Pyramids, Antiquities, Viracocha (Inca deity) 'The terracotta warriors' -- subject(s): Tomb, Antiquities, Terra-cotta sculpture, Chinese
