Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan God the Aztecs have captivated the Western world for centuries. They were one of the dominant groups of people within the Mesoamerican Region. The Mexica, otherwise known as the Aztecs, learned much of what they based their mythology on from the Toltecs.
The Toltecs were regarded as the pioneers of “culture” in the region, prompting the Mexica to seek their spiritual guidance. Much of what makes up Aztec Mythology was based on Toltec traditions. The Mexica also adopted the traditions of other cultures they either met or conquered. The Mexica integrated various traditions into their own culture, resulting in multiple creation myths. All of this can be considered as Aztec mythology.
Aztec Creation Myth
There were two dualistic gods. They were named Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca, who each represented light and dark. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca live in the skies for an Earth Monster resided in the oceans. The Earth Monster had numerous mouths in which she devoured all. Each time the twins created something, the Earth Goddess swallowed it whole.
Finally, they had enough. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca took the form of serpents and coiled around the Earth Monster. They soon split her in half and created the world as we know it. Her legs and stomach turned into the sky, and her upper body transformed into the earth. Her hair became flowers and trees and her eyes were turned into springs and caves.
It was said she was granted the ability to provide nourishment for people as a form of compensation for being torn in half by the twins, but she ultimately was unhappy. The goddess would become so unhappy that she could be heard crying at night. The only way to cheer her up would be to placate her with human blood. Human hearts are given in exchange for nourishment so that people can survive.
Founding of Tenochtitlan
The Aztecs constantly paid tribute to Huitzilopochtli with human sacrifice. The Mexica founded the magnificent city of Tenochtitlan on an engineered island nestled in the center of Lake Texcoco. North of the lands where the Aztecs resided lived Huitzilopochtli’s sister and her son, Copil. Copil grew up loathing his uncle and vowed to end Huitzilopochtli’s streak of cruelty. He subsequently gathered an army and marched to the Moon Lake, known as Lake Texcoco. Tenochtitlan God: At the heart of this lake stood the Aztecs alongside Huitzilopochtli.
The Birth of Tenochtitlan
Copil was unaware that his uncle knew of his coming from his network of spies. Huitzilopochtli, now angrier than ever, demanded that three of his priests go across the lake to cut out Copil’s heart and bring it to him. The priests went over and cut out Copil’s heart, bringing it back to the island and Huitzilopochtli. He directed the priests to lay the heart to rest at the island’s center.
The next morning, a green plant with red flowers was seen growing where the heart was buried. This plant is a nopal cactus and is said to serve as a symbol of Copil’s courage. Three days later, on the nopal cactus stood an eagle with a serpent in its beak. After the Aztecs saw this, they constructed a magnificent city on the island. This city was named Tenochtitlan.
You can also check out: Aztec Culture