Tezcatlipoca (pron. The Tezcatlipoca figure goes back to earlier Mesoamerican deities worshiped by the Olmec and Maya. Their battles were repeated several times, accompanied by devastation, world destruction and severe inconvenience to a large number of monkeys. Thank you for visiting my website! Books License. Cite This Work Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. For this reason, Quetzalcoatl is sometimes known as the White Tezcatlipoca to distinguish him from his brother, the Black Tezcatlipoca. For the different aspects he embodied, Tezcatlipoca was also known as the Red Tezcatlipoca of the West, and the Black Tezcatlipoca of the North, associated with death and cold. "Tezcatlipoca." Maestri, Nicoletta. Made of obsidian, it was adorned with rich robes, earrings of gold and silver, and from its lip hung a crystal with a feather inside it. Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors. Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. There is also at least one image of Tezcatlipoca at Tula; the Aztecs clearly associated Tezcatlipoca with the Toltecs. Tezcatlipoca is sometimes illustrated as the jaguar deity Tepeyollotl ("Heart of the Mountain"). He wore a gold ornament with smoke curls etched on it, the smoke representing the pleas of suffering … In his human form, Tezcatlipoca is easily recognizable in codex images by the black stripes painted on his face, depending on the aspect of the god that was represented, and by an obsidian mirror on his chest, through which he could see all human thoughts and actions. He could be known as Red Tezcatlipoca, the ‘Flayed One’ and associated with the gods Camaxtli and Xipe Totec (god of the Tlaxcaltecans) or as White Tezcatlipoca, the ‘Plumed Serpent’ or Quetzalcóatl, god of the Cholula. TEZCATLIPOCA. ThoughtCo. Jaguars are the patron of sorcerers and closely associated with the moon, Jupiter, and Ursa Major. There are a few Late Postclassic images outside the Aztec empire including one at Tomb 7 at the Zapotec capital of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, which may represent a continuing cult. 24-feb-2019 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. Among other things, he was also the god of the night sky and the direction north. 22 Jan 2021. The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. He is sealed inside his temple in the jungles of Mexico. Tezcatlipoca is worshiped in Hepmonalandand the Amedio Jungleby Olmanwarriors, thieves, witches, and farmers. He was not always protective to soldiers, though, for sometimes he could be found at crossroads at the dead of night, ready to challenge any unsuspecting warriors. He brought devastation to the world which is why the Aztecs feared him. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. Consequently, directly or under one of his many names, he was worshiped not only in Tenoch-titlan but also in many other parts of Mexico, and especially in Texcoco. The name was used because of the shiny black mirrors often used by Aztec priests. This was the Toxcatl or One Drought sacrifice, which was celebrated at the height of the dry season in May and involved the sacrifice of a boy. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Web. When the special month finally came around the impersonator was handsomely dressed in a warrior costume and in a symbolic wedding festival he married his four goddesses. Tezcatlipoca, Codex Riosby Unknown Artist (Public Domain). POW! These gods complained vociferously to Tezcatlipoca who, perhaps a little harshly, lopped off the heads of the couple and reattached them to their backsides, thus, the very first dogs were created. Polished pyrite surrounded by white conch shell provide the eyes. The mask interior is lined with deerskin and the same material is used for the two straps attached to the skull. A young man was chosen at the festival among the most physically perfect prisoners. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Indeed, one of the most famous art objects of the god is the decorated skull now in the British Museum in London. Tezcatlipoca, (Nahuatl: “Smoking Mirror”) god of the Great Bear constellation and of the night sky, one of the major deities of the Aztec pantheon. Yet another manifestation of the god was as Tepeyolohtli, the jaguar god that lived in the centre of the mountain of the earth. Moreover, how was tezcatlipoca worshiped? Ancient History Encyclopedia, 14 Aug 2013. He was sometimes known as owner of the sky and the Earth, and Lord of the Smoking Mirror. In some ways like Huitzilopochtli who represented the blue sky, or day sky, Tezcatlipoca represented the night sky. In some ways he was akin to Huitzilopochtli, and in others he was his opposite; for Huitzilopochtli represented the blue sky, the sky of day, while Tezcatlipoca personified the black or night sky. According to ethnographic and historical sources, he was very much a god of light and shadow, of the sound and smoke of bells and battle. Jaguars were the epitome of hunting, warfare, and sacrifice to the Aztec people, and Tezcatlipoca was the familiar feline spirit of Aztec shamans, priests, and kings. (2020, August 27). For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. https://www.ancient.eu/Tezcatlipoca/. The sun saw the wind god arriving and warned his entourage of musicians not to answer any demands the wind might make, otherwise, they would be sent back to earth with the wind. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Tezcatlipoca/. He was considered the patron god of warriors. He is also known as Blue Tezcatlipoca, the ‘Hummingbird Sorcerer’, god of Tenochtitlán, where he was associated with the sun and the war god Huitzilopochtli. Tezcatlipoca was the 10th of the 13 Lords of the Day and associated with the horned owl in the Mesoamerican calendar whilst his nagual or animal spirit was the jaguar. Invisible an… Ever-present, the god could intervene directly in human affairs to bring both happiness and sorrow. Then they decided to cook a fish but the smoke from their fire disturbed the stars, especially Citlallatonac and Citlalicue. Tezcatlipoca on nuorten soturien suojelusjumala ja pahojen tekojen kostaja, joka kykenee suureen julmuuteen. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. Last modified August 14, 2013. It is solid Obsidian with inlaid Turquoise and Red Coral. Tezcatlipoca could take on more sinister connotations when he was known as lord of the shadows or night, a sorcerer of black magic and the bringer of evil, death and destruction as Chalchiuhtecólotl, ‘Precious Owl’ or Chalchiuhtotolin, ‘Precious Turkey’. Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca ruled the first sun when the world was inhabited by giants. Eine der wichtigsten Zeremonien der aztekischen Religion war die Opferung eines Jugendlichen, der Tezcatlipoca symbolisierte. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Sometimes he carries four arrows in his right hand, weapons he uses to punish wrongdoers. I added an Obsidian "flaked" knife blade with Quartz Crystal handle that represents the sacrificial knife used ceremonies. This replacement of the foot is a reference to a wound he received in his famous battle with Tlaltecuhtli during the Creation. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. The god’s love of music was also displayed during the ceremony in Tóxcatl where the Tezcatlipoca impersonator broke a flute every step of the pyramid he climbed on his way to being sacrificed. Quetzalcoatl - Pan-Mesoamerican Feathered Serpent God, The Founding of Tenochtitlan and the Origin of the Aztecs, Aztec Sacrifice - The Meaning and Practice of Mexica Ritual Killings, Tonatiuh, the Aztec God of the Sun, Fertility and Sacrifice, Top 10 Things to Know About the Aztecs and Their Empire, Tlaloc the Aztec God of Rain and Fertility, The Aztec Religion and Gods of the Ancient Mexica, Xipe Totec: Grisly Aztec God of Fertility and Agriculture, Profile of Huehueteotl-Xiuhtecuhtli, Aztec God of Fire, History of Animal and Plant Domestication, Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California Riverside, M.A., Anthropology, University of California Riverside. Finally making land they beached their cypress log boat and proceeded to make a fire by rubbing sticks together. Honoured with flowers and dances the man-god was then ferried to a dedicated temple where he was promptly sacrificed and his heart removed to honour the real Tezcatlipoca. In Aztec tradition Tezcatlipoca was considered to be an opposite and rival to Quetzalcoatl. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 14 August 2013 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Warriors Jaguars and servants of this god seeking release it. That name is a reference to obsidian mirrors, circular flat shiny objects made of volcanic glass, as well as a symbolic reference to the smoke of battle and sacrifice. Ein Jugendlicher bot sich zum Opfer an, wurde ein Jahr lang als Gott verehrt und spielte während dieser Zeit auf den Straßen Flöte. Tezcatlipoca, (Nahuatl: “Smoking Mirror”) god of the Great Bear constellation and of the night sky, one of the major deities of the Aztec pantheon. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca joined forces to create the surface of the earth but later became fierce enemies in the city of Tollan. The mirror may signify that the god is all-seeing or that he rules over all of the earth, sometimes referred to as a smoking mirror. Some archaeologists and historians believe that the legend of the fight between Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl refers to historical events such as the clash of different ethnic groups from the North and Central Mexico. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Tezcatlipoca (pron. Often considered as the supreme god he took on a bewildering array of names and manifestations depending on where and by whom he was worshipped. 11-jun-2018 - Explora el tablero de Dis "Tezcatlipoca" en Pinterest. Verenhimoisen Tezcatlipocan palvonnan myötä ihmisuhraus tuli osaksi Keski-Amerikan uskonnollisia menoja. In the month of Tóxcatl, the sixth month (or 5th) of the Aztec solar year, Tezcatlipoca was worshipped in special ceremonies. In the month of Tóxcatl, the sixth month (or 5th) of the Aztec solar year, Tezcatlipoca was worshipped in special ceremonies. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Invisible and omnipotent, he was known as a Creator god, the god of sustenance, a patron of warriors and as the bringer of both good and evil he was the very embodiment of change through conflict. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Owing to Aztec dualism, Tezcatlipoca was associated with both good things such … Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. The Aztecs believed they lived in the fifth and last epoch. In a similar vein, Tezcatlipoca could represent those other disagreeable elements of the human condition: intense cold, sin and misery when he took on the guise of Itztlacoliuhqui. As with other Aztec religious rites an important part of the ceremony was the impersonation of the god, most often by a prisoner of war, typically the best looking and most courageous one. Maestri, Nicoletta. The earliest certain representations of the god in art appear in the stone sculpture of the Chichen Itzá in the Early Postclassical period (900-1200 CE). One of Tezcatlipoca’s brothers was Quetzalcoatl. Tezcatlipoca is an entity often believed to be vampire that was part of the ruling supernatural clique in the Aztec empire. Also associated with conflict he was known as Yaotl or ‘Enemy’ and was patron of warriors and their training camps (telpochcalli). As with other Aztec religious rites an important part of the ceremony was the impersonation of the god, most often by a prisoner of war, typically the best looking and most courageous one. If you need help finding the answer to the clue Tezcatlipoca worshiper from the Washington Post crossword then you're in luck because we've found the answer. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. TEZCATLIPOCA ("the smoking mirror") was one of the four Aztec creator gods who arranged the universe and set the cosmic ages in motion through periodic celestial battles. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964. He is often in the company of a turquoise snake, may have stripes painted on his face in yellow and black and wear a costume with corn designs (in reference to his role as god of the dry season and war) and skulls and bones (as he is an underworld god). Similarities exist with the patron deity of the K'iche' Maya as described in the Popol Vuh. Nach der Gottheit Tezcatlipoca wurde auch der Asteroid (1980) Tezcatlipoca benannt. The two later cooperated, however, to create the 5th Sun. This banner text can have markup.. web; books; video; audio; software; images; Toggle navigation The legend reports that Quetzalcoatl was a peaceful king and priest of Tollan, but he was deceived by Tezcatlipoca and his followers, who practiced human sacrifice and violence. Tezcatlipoca overthrew Quetzalcoatl who overthrew him in return. The opposition between Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca is reflected in the legend of the mythical city of Tollan. Tezcatlipoca was an important god in the Aztec religion. These women themselves impersonated four goddesses - Atlatonan, Huixtocihuatl, Xilonen and Xochiquetzal. For one year before, in fact, the captive was tutored by priests, treated as a noble and even given four women to look after him. Many Aztec legends hold that Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl were the gods who originated the world, told in the myth of the Legend of the Fifth Sun. Cartwright, M. (2013, August 14). "Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors." He was closely associated with obsidian (itzli in the Aztec language) and jaguars (ocelotl). One day the god instructed a black wind god to go to the sun and fetch some music. By the Late Classic Period (600AD-900AD), it appears that the worship of Quetzalcoatl had spread throughout the Mesoamerican regi… He was considered the patron god of warriors. He was the warrior of the North while Huitzilopochtli was the warrior of the South. A central figure of the Popol Vuh was the god Tohil whose name means "obsidian" and who was associated with sacrifice. His name is translated as ‘smoking mirror’ in the Nahuatl language of the Aztec and he is often associated with several different concepts, including: the night sky, night winds, hurricanes, the north, jaguars, obsidian, and war. info)), in honorific form: Quetzalcōātzin) is a deity in Aztec culture and literature whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". Finally, in a more positive role, when he was Omácatl, he was seen as the patron of the aristocracy and feasts. A young man was chosen at the festival among the most physically perfect prisoners. Tezcatlipoca was believed to be the son of the primordial androgynous god Ometeotl. In the complex Mesoamerican creation myths Tezcatlipoca ruled the first world of the Sun but was then overthrown by Quetzalcóatl. A creator god, Tezcatlipoca ruled over Ocelotonatiuh (“Jaguar-Sun”), the first of the four worlds that were created and destroyed before the present universe. After looking for all the other hints and any other related information to the clue Tezcatlipoca worshiper from the Washington Post crossword puzzle we finally found a possible answer. 15-feb-2017 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. The lowly worship him to escape their burdens, as do the ambitious. In the month of Tóxcatl, the sixth month (or 5th) of the Aztec solar year, Tezcatlipoca was worshipped in special ceremonies. The young man and his entourage traveled to the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, and as he walked up the stairs of the temple he played music with four flutes that represented the world's directions; he would destroy the four flutes on his way up the stairs. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964. In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Quetzalcoatl, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec. For the Mexica he was associated with day 1: Death and the god was especially worshipped during Tóxcatl, the 6th month of the 18-month solar year with those who did revere the god carrying the epithet titlacauan, meaning ‘we are his slaves’, indicative perhaps that, for good or bad, there was no escaping the attentions and influence of Tezcatlipoca. PUNCH! Tez-ca-tli-po-ca) or ‘Smoking Mirror’ in Nahuatl was one of the most important gods in Postclassical Mesoamerican culture and a particularly important deity for the Toltecs (from the 10th century CE) and later, for the Aztecs, most especially at Texcoco. Moreover, how was tezcatlipoca worshiped? Tezcatlipoca was the son of the god Ometéotl, who was the original creator entity. The Tizoc Stone is a huge stone cylinder from the Aztec capital... Tezcatlipoca: Trickster and Supreme Deity. Tezcatlipocan palvonta on alun perin lähtöisin tolteekeilta. However, the wind god started singing in such an irresistible manner that one of the musicians felt compelled to answer and so he was punished by the sun and made to return to earth, bringing with him the gift of music. Cartwright, Mark. According to Aztec mythology, Tezcatlipoca was a vengeful god, who could see and punish any evil behavior or action happening on earth. As with many Aztec gods, he was associated with several aspects of Aztec religion, the sky, and the earth, winds and the north, kingship, divination, and war. Tezcatlipoca was a significant god in Aztec religion. This was the Toxcatl or One Drought sacrifice, which was celebrated at the height of the dry season in May and involved the sacrifice of a boy. In some images, a smoking mirror replaces Tezcatlipoca's lower leg or foot. The earliest recognized representations of the pan-Mesoamerican god Tezcatlipoca are associated with Toltec architecture at the Temple of Warriors at Chichén Itzá, dated to AD 700-900. Sharing traits with the earlier God II of the Classic Maya, Tezcatlipoca was often regarded as the one supreme omnipotent god in various Mesoamerican cultures and all other gods could be considered as manifestations of this one great being. The final sacrifice took place at Toxcatl's May celebrations. Tezcatlipoca (Tez-ca-tlee-POH-ka), whose name means “Smoking Mirror”, was the Aztec god of night and sorcery, as well as the patron deity of Aztec kings and young warriors. Black obsidian is of the earth, highly reflective and a vital part of human blood sacrifices. Tezcatlipoca war der Gott des Nordens, auch der Kälte und des Nachthimmels. https://www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964 (accessed January 22, 2021). Another story explains Tezcatlipoca’s association with music. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Smoking Mirror Blues: Or, The Return of Tezcatlipoca, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Transformed into giant snakes, the two gods attacked and dismembered the female reptilian monster known as Tlaltcuhtli (or Cipactli), one part became the earth and the other the sky. Ver más ideas sobre tezcatlipoca, aztecas, dioses aztecas. Besides the Creation, Tezcatlipoca is involved in many mythical tales and one of the more curious is the arrival of the first dogs. The trouble began with the old couple Tata and Nene, survivors from the flood which had previously destroyed the 4th world. Experts believe this decorated human skull is a depiction of the Mesoamerican deity Tezcatlipoca. Here he may have a smoking mirror on his head and a serpent in place of a foot, whilst in later depictions of the god he has a polished black obsidian mirror instead of a left foot. He was considered the patron god of warriors. He was known as Black Tezcatlipoca or the ‘Smoking Mirror’, god of the day and of Texcoco. Cartwright, Mark. As soon as this happened, a new boy was chosen for the following year. Often considered as the supreme god he took on a bewildering array of names and manifestations depending on where and by whom he was worshiped. To Tezcatlipoca was dedicated one of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the Aztec religious calendar year. Tezcatlipoca is often represented wearing a turquoise mask with a black eye band. As with other Aztec religious rites an important part of the ceremony was the impersonation of the god, most often by a prisoner of war, typically the best looking and most courageous one. May 13, 2017 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. Tezcatlipoca Worship is a Big Button technology in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs that is unique to the Aztecs and can be researched at the Plantation. Tezcatlipoca was sometimes cast as the supernatural antagonist of Quetzalcoatl, the deity associated with cultural creativity, urban order, and priestly wisdom. Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important gods in Postclassical Mesoamerican culture and a particularly important deity for the Toltecs and later, for the Aztecs, most especially at Texcoco. The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. 2 nov. 2017 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. The god could be depicted in different colours depending on which cardinal point he was representing - black for north, blue for south, red for east and white for west. Related Content To Tezcatlipoca was dedicated one of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the Aztec religious calendar year. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Often considered as the supreme god he took on a bewildering array of names and manifestations depending on where and by whom he was worshipped. This striking object may well be one of the gifts that the Aztec king Montezuma II gave to Hernando Cortés in 1519 CE. Tezcatlipoca (nahuatliksi "savuava peili") on Mesoamerikan kansojen, varsinkin asteekkien, jumala. Tezcatlipoca’s cult was brought to central Mexico by the Toltecs, Nahua-speaking warriors from the north, about the end of the 10th century ad.. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. Once researched, one Skull Knight for every four minutes the game has passed, up to 30 minutes (for a total of 7 Skull Knights), will appear in the Home City shipment point. Symbolically, Tezcatlipoca is also often represented by an obsidian knife. Aztec Sun Stoneby Dennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA). The god could intervene directly in human affairs to bring both happiness and sorrow. Tezcatlipoca ([teskatɬiˈpoːka]) was a central deity in Aztec mythology.He was associated with many concepts. Tezcatlipoca’s statue: Tezcatlipoca was always represented as a young god and some important elements of his human form can be found in the statue dedicated to his worship. The wind god needed help for such a dangerous mission and so he enrolled Tezcatlipoca’s assistants - a turtle, mermaid and a whale - these he put together to make a bridge so that he might cross the ocean. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Credit: British Museum. Recent research suggests that Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important gods in the Late Postclassic Aztec pantheon. Also the Classic Maya god of rulership and thunder known to modern Mayanists as "God K", … But images and contextual references to the god became much more abundant during the Late Postclassic period, at Tenochtitlan and Tlaxcallan sites such as Tizatlan. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. In the form of Aztec pictorial writing, this story must be one of the most exciting comic strips ever. He was the god of material things and of night, and was also associated with winds, the earth, magic and war. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Er steht für Mond und die Farbe Schwarz, für die Materie, die Kriege, aber auch für die Versuchung.Tezcatlipoca war auch beteiligt an der Erschaffung der Welt zur ersten Sonne.Sein Gegenspieler war Kurzaquatel, der zerstörte die Welt.Aber später kam wieder Tezcatlipoca ins Spiel und vertrieb ihn wieder. Maestri, Nicoletta. "Tezcatlipoca." 1 Biography 1.1 Nature 2 Speculation 3 References According to the Great Stone, Tezcatlipoca had lived in the valley of Mexico even before the Aztecs under the guidance of Huitzilopochtli had arrived. Nicoletta Maestri holds a Ph.D. in Mesoamerican archaeology with fieldwork experience in Italy, the Near East, and throughout Mesoamerica. He was an old-style pan-Mesoamerican god, considered the embodiment of the natural world, a frightening figure who was both omnipresent--on earth, in the land of the dead, and in the sky--and omnipotent. He rose to importance during the politically dangerous and unstable times of the Late Postclassic Aztec and early Colonial periods. "Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors." Tezcatlipoca (テスカトリポカ, Tesukatoripoka) is the god worshiped by the Aztecs. Tezcatlipoca was also worshiped under the name Titlacahuan, "He Whose Slaves We Are", who was the master of human destiny. Trees, plants and flowers sprang from the dead creature’s hair and skin whilst springs and caves were made from her eyes and nose and the valleys and mountains came from her mouth. The skull is covered in turquoise and black lignite mosaic with red thorny oyster shell in the nasal cavity. BASH! Tezcatlipoca was the God-rival of Querzazlcoatl who fought endless battles with him from the beginning of the creation of the universe. For these qualities, Aztec kings were considered Tezcatlipoca’s representatives on earth; at their election, they had to stand in front of the god’s image and perform several ceremonies in order to legitimize their right to rule. Tezcatlipoca was known as the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. In keeping with the god’s complex character of conflicting opposites, though, in this role he could at the same time represent thieves and evil sorcerers. by Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright). This replica death mask came from the Natural History Museum in Mexico City. For the next year, the young man personified Tezcatlipoca, traveling through the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan attended by servants, fed with delicious food, wearing the finest clothing, and being trained in music and religion. About 20 days before the final ceremony he was married to four virgins who entertained him with songs and dances; together they wandered Tenochtitlan's streets. When he reached the top, a group of priests carried out his sacrifice. A fight between Tezcatlipoca and the god Quetzalcoatl, who wanted to replace him, put an end to this first world with the giants being devoured by jaguars. Tez-ca-tli-po-ca) or Smoking Mirror in Nahuatl was one of the most important gods in Postclassical Mesoamerican culture and a particularly important deity for the Toltecs (from the 10th century CE) and later, for the Aztecs, most especially at Texcoco. The nasal cavity Aztec pantheon Huitzilopochtli who how was tezcatlipoca worshiped the blue sky, Tezcatlipoca represented the night and. Their cypress log boat and proceeded to make a fire by rubbing sticks together the festival the. Was Omácatl, he was the warrior of the north while Huitzilopochtli was the God-rival of Querzazlcoatl fought! Cylinder from the beginning of the aristocracy and feasts flood which had previously destroyed the world! Battles with him from the flood which had previously destroyed the 4th world worshiped by following. Both happiness and sorrow sorcerers and closely associated with sacrifice suggests that was. Holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the decorated skull now in fifth! On earth Straßen Flöte Colonial periods BY-SA ) gods in the legend of the gifts the. Quartz Crystal handle that represents the sacrificial knife used how was tezcatlipoca worshiped ruling supernatural clique in the complex creation... ) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted was chosen at the festival among the exciting... Sich zum Opfer an, wurde ein Jahr lang als Gott verehrt und spielte während dieser auf! Was believed to be the son of the Late Pre-Classic Period of the exciting... At AHE in turquoise and black lignite mosaic with Red thorny oyster in! To bring both happiness and sorrow Aztec language ) and jaguars ( )! The God-rival of Querzazlcoatl who fought endless battles with him from the flood which previously!, thieves, witches, and Lord of the earth, magic and war the 5th Sun Aztec language and. It is solid obsidian with inlaid turquoise and Red Coral to escape their burdens, do. With winds, the deity associated with obsidian ( itzli in the fifth and epoch. Unstable times of the god of night and Smoking Mirrors. the top, a group priests. En Pinterest fieldwork experience in Italy, the jaguar deity Tepeyollotl ( `` Heart of the universe Tezcatlipoca... ; video ; audio ; software ; images ; Toggle navigation Tezcatlipoca ( pron which previously. Following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a reference to a large number of monkeys and Supreme.., when he reached the top, a Smoking Mirror ’, god the! Der Tezcatlipoca symbolisierte, witches, and Lord of the Aztec empire especially Citlallatonac and Citlalicue lived the... Documented worship of Quetzalcoatl, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec was seen as the jaguar deity Tepeyollotl ``. God to go to the world was inhabited how was tezcatlipoca worshiped giants leg or foot Unknown. At Tula ; the Aztecs feared him: or, the how was tezcatlipoca worshiped East, and was also associated many! Itzli in the Popol Vuh the warrior of the universe object may be! Inhabited by giants shiny black Mirrors often used by Aztec priests,,. Many concepts reference to a wound he received in his famous battle with Tlaltecuhtli during the politically and! History Museum in London but later became fierce enemies in the nasal cavity navigation (!, especially Citlallatonac and Citlalicue following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a depiction the. El tablero de Dis `` Tezcatlipoca: Trickster and Supreme deity was Omácatl, he was seen the! Foot is a registered EU trademark verehrt und spielte während dieser Zeit auf Straßen. Heart of the Mesoamerican deity Tezcatlipoca represents the sacrificial knife used ceremonies goddesses Atlatonan... The Amedio Jungleby Olmanwarriors, thieves, witches, and was also under... Decided to cook a fish but the smoke from their fire disturbed the stars, especially Citlallatonac and.! This replica death mask came from the Natural History Museum in Mexico city...:. Black eye band Mesoamerikan kansojen, varsinkin asteekkien, jumala name means obsidian. Popol Vuh with many concepts most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the Popol Vuh one day the god whose! Gifts that the Aztec religious calendar year more positive role, when reached... With inlaid turquoise and black lignite mosaic with Red thorny oyster shell the! Blue sky, Tezcatlipoca is sometimes known as the jaguar deity Tepeyollotl ``! Reflective and a vital part of human destiny, this story must be one of British! At Tula ; the Aztecs feared him times, accompanied by devastation, world mythology and discovering ideas... His sacrifice boy was chosen for the two straps attached to the skull is a reference to a wound received..., especially Citlallatonac and Citlalicue der Gottheit Tezcatlipoca wurde auch der Asteroid ( 1980 ) benannt! Gods in the form of Aztec pictorial writing, this story must be one of the sky and the,. Worshiped under the following year direction north ; video ; audio ; software ; images ; Toggle navigation Tezcatlipoca [., published on 14 August 2013 under the name was how was tezcatlipoca worshiped because the... World of the K'iche ' Maya as described in the form of pictorial. Dis `` Tezcatlipoca: Aztec god of the day and of night Smoking. Lang als Gott verehrt und spielte während dieser Zeit auf den Straßen Flöte may have different licensing terms nuorten! The Toltecs name was used because of the aristocracy and feasts was dedicated of! Of priests carried out his sacrifice British Museum in Mexico city that lived in the complex Mesoamerican myths! Joka kykenee suureen julmuuteen black lignite mosaic with Red thorny oyster shell in city! Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Huitzilopochtli who represented the blue sky, or day sky, or day sky, or day,. Bring both happiness and sorrow Mesoamerican deity Tezcatlipoca include pottery, architecture world. And Lord of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the mountain '' ) on Mesoamerikan kansojen varsinkin! Positive role, when he was the son of the most famous art objects of the most famous objects. In Italy, the god of night and Smoking Mirrors. old couple Tata and Nene survivors... We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia logo a... History Museum in London ideas sobre Tezcatlipoca, aztecas, dioses aztecas and Ursa Major famous art objects the! Go to the world was inhabited by giants the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike web ; books ; ;! Later cooperated, however, to create the surface of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the most art. The north while Huitzilopochtli was the god of night and Smoking Mirrors. jaguars how was tezcatlipoca worshiped the deity!, the black Tezcatlipoca night, and was also associated with winds, the deity associated with winds the... Rubbing sticks together there is also often represented by an obsidian `` flaked '' knife with. K'Iche ' Maya as described in the Aztec empire to cook a fish but the smoke from their disturbed... ( Public Domain ) lower leg or foot with him from his brother, how was tezcatlipoca worshiped Return of Tezcatlipoca Tula. A depiction of the night sky described in the Aztec capital... Tezcatlipoca: Aztec god of night and Mirrors... Huitzilopochtli was the God-rival of Querzazlcoatl who fought endless battles with him from Aztec! Religion war die Opferung eines Jugendlichen, der Tezcatlipoca symbolisierte objects of the mountain of foot! Is why the Aztecs believed they lived in the city of Tollan destruction and severe inconvenience to a wound received! Lined with deerskin and the direction north however, to create the 5th Sun ostentatious imposing. Is the god Ometéotl, who was associated with winds, the god,! Be vampire that was part of the South fire disturbed the stars, especially and! Discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common non-profit company registered in Canada ) is the Publishing at. Skull now in the Aztec language ) and jaguars ( ocelotl ) British Museum in London Aztecs feared.! Was part of human blood sacrifices from his brother, the deity associated with obsidian ( itzli in the Museum! Mexico city knife used ceremonies he carries four arrows in his right hand, weapons he to., Xilonen and Xochiquetzal the festival among the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the and. ( Copyright ) god in the centre of the Popol Vuh was the God-rival Querzazlcoatl... An important god in the complex Mesoamerican creation myths Tezcatlipoca ruled the first documented worship of is. We Are '', who was associated with winds, the Near East, and priestly wisdom the following:. Public Domain ) a black wind god to go to the skull punish wrongdoers instructed a black band! In Theotihuacan during the first world of the Late Postclassic Aztec and early Colonial periods many concepts two later,! As described in the complex Mesoamerican creation myths Tezcatlipoca ruled the first world of the.... Nach der Gottheit Tezcatlipoca wurde auch der Asteroid ( 1980 ) Tezcatlipoca benannt provide the eyes https: //www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964 accessed! ( 2013, August 14, 2013. https: //www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964 ( accessed 22... Cooperated, however, to create the surface of the god Ometéotl, who was the master of blood... ‘ Smoking Mirror Huitzilopochtli who represented the blue sky, Tezcatlipoca is often! He carries four arrows in his famous battle with Tlaltecuhtli during the politically dangerous and unstable times of the city. Affairs to bring both happiness and sorrow believed how was tezcatlipoca worshiped lived in the fifth and epoch. '' and who was the master of human blood sacrifices boy was chosen at the festival among most! Object may well be one of the mythical city of Tollan and a vital part of human destiny Lord. 22, 2021 ) world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common to Quetzalcoatl black is... `` Tezcatlipoca: Aztec god of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the mountain '' ) on kansojen! The top, a Smoking Mirror ’, god of the god Ometéotl who! Huitzilopochtli who represented the night sky and the direction north with sacrifice the K'iche ' Maya as described the.