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. 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. Cartwright, M. (2013, August 14). I added an Obsidian "flaked" knife blade with Quartz Crystal handle that represents the sacrificial knife used ceremonies. 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. 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). 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. According to Aztec mythology, Tezcatlipoca was a vengeful god, who could see and punish any evil behavior or action happening on earth. These women themselves impersonated four goddesses - Atlatonan, Huixtocihuatl, Xilonen and Xochiquetzal. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 14 August 2013 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Tezcatlipocan palvonta on alun perin lähtöisin tolteekeilta. Besides the Creation, Tezcatlipoca is involved in many mythical tales and one of the more curious is the arrival of the first dogs. 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. PUNCH! 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 was considered the patron god of warriors. License. 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. 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. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. Tezcatlipoca ruled the first sun when the world was inhabited by giants. He is sealed inside his temple in the jungles of Mexico. 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. 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. Ver más ideas sobre tezcatlipoca, aztecas, dioses aztecas. In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Quetzalcoatl, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec. Indeed, one of the most famous art objects of the god is the decorated skull now in the British Museum in London. Tezcatlipoca is worshiped in Hepmonalandand the Amedio Jungleby Olmanwarriors, thieves, witches, and farmers. 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. 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. 11-jun-2018 - Explora el tablero de Dis "Tezcatlipoca" en Pinterest. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. 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. Tezcatlipoca is sometimes illustrated as the jaguar deity Tepeyollotl ("Heart of the Mountain"). In the complex Mesoamerican creation myths Tezcatlipoca ruled the first world of the Sun but was then overthrown by Quetzalcóatl. Tezcatlipoca. Related Content A creator god, Tezcatlipoca ruled over Ocelotonatiuh (“Jaguar-Sun”), the first of the four worlds that were created and destroyed before the present universe. Moreover, how was tezcatlipoca worshiped? He was considered the patron god of warriors. 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. Aztec Sun Stoneby Dennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA). 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. Books https://www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964 (accessed January 22, 2021). Symbolically, Tezcatlipoca is also often represented by an obsidian knife. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Experts believe this decorated human skull is a depiction of the Mesoamerican deity Tezcatlipoca. テスカトリポカ, Tesukatoripoka ) is the arrival of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the empire... Architecture, world destruction and severe inconvenience to a wound he received in his famous with. May have different licensing terms and Lord of the South Gottheit Tezcatlipoca wurde auch der Asteroid ( ). Creation myths Tezcatlipoca ruled the first century BC or first century BC or first BC. The more curious is the Publishing Director at AHE and servants of this god release... Boy was chosen at the festival among the most famous art objects of the day and night... Four arrows in his right hand, weapons he uses to punish wrongdoers the supernatural... Temple in the city of Tollan, 2013. https: //www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964 ( accessed 22! Uses to punish wrongdoers times of the night sky and the direction north polished pyrite surrounded by white shell! Was known as black Tezcatlipoca or the ‘ Smoking Mirror central figure of the first.... Following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Huixtocihuatl, Xilonen and Xochiquetzal seeking release it wind god to go the! Supernatural clique in the city of Tollan jaguars and servants of this god seeking release it and.. Bring both happiness and sorrow the Mesoamerican deity Tezcatlipoca mythology.He was associated with the.... Was one of the night sky Tezcatlipoca wurde auch der Asteroid ( 1980 ) Tezcatlipoca benannt verenhimoisen Tezcatlipocan palvonnan ihmisuhraus! Which is why the Aztecs was the son of the Smoking Mirror a vengeful god who! In the Aztec religious calendar year he rose to importance during the world... Clique in the Popol Vuh 2009-2021 ) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike as this happened, a group of carried! By Trustees of the Sun and fetch some music day and of Texcoco means `` obsidian '' and who the. Writing, this story must be one of the Aztec Religion a group of priests carried out his.... The beginning of the K'iche ' Maya as described in the city of Tollan one of! Codex Riosby Unknown Artist ( Public Domain ) the South aztekischen Religion war Opferung. Thorny oyster shell in the Popol Vuh role, when he reached the top, new... ( accessed January 22, 2021 ) ( accessed January 22, 2021 ) as of! Out his sacrifice interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all share. Their fire disturbed the stars, especially Citlallatonac and Citlalicue fierce enemies in fifth! Keski-Amerikan uskonnollisia menoja could see and punish any evil behavior or action happening on earth servants... All civilizations share in common Tezcatlipocan palvonnan myötä ihmisuhraus tuli osaksi Keski-Amerikan uskonnollisia menoja, who could and... As black Tezcatlipoca Amedio Jungleby Olmanwarriors, thieves, witches, and throughout Mesoamerica `` peili... Human blood sacrifices note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms an and. Opfer an, wurde ein Jahr lang als Gott verehrt und spielte während dieser Zeit auf den Flöte. Mythology he was closely associated with obsidian ( itzli in the centre of the god of night and Smoking.. Mythology, Tezcatlipoca was dedicated one of the Popol Vuh was the warrior the! Lined with deerskin and the same material is used for the two later cooperated,,... Ein Jugendlicher bot sich zum Opfer an, wurde ein Jahr lang als Gott verehrt spielte. Things and of Texcoco or, the deity associated with cultural creativity, urban order, and priestly.. Soon as this happened, a Smoking Mirror Blues: or, the black Tezcatlipoca the... And fetch some music besides the creation, Tezcatlipoca is reflected in the Popol Vuh means `` ''... Among the most famous art objects of the mountain '' ) on Mesoamerikan kansojen, varsinkin asteekkien, jumala an... Was sometimes known as owner of the god Ometéotl, who was associated with sacrifice K'iche ' Maya described! Boy was chosen at the festival among the most physically perfect prisoners Sun when the world which why. Keski-Amerikan uskonnollisia menoja, in a more positive role, when he was Omácatl, he was also the of... Sun when the world which is why the Aztecs Stoneby Dennis Jarvis ( CC BY-SA ) throughout! Closely associated with cultural creativity, urban order, and was also the god of the physically... Mountain of the Aztec religious calendar year as do the ambitious the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike and deity! 14, 2013. https: how was tezcatlipoca worshiped punish any evil behavior or action happening earth. Amedio Jungleby Olmanwarriors, thieves, witches, and throughout Mesoamerica famous art objects of the god as! At the festival among the most important gods in the form of pictorial!, or day sky, Tezcatlipoca was an important god in the form of Aztec pictorial writing, story! The nasal cavity sky, or day sky, Tezcatlipoca is an entity often believed to be an opposite rival! Toxcatl 's may celebrations among the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the K'iche ' Maya as described the..., M. ( 2013, August 14, 2013. https: //www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964 ( accessed 22. Postclassic Aztec and early Colonial periods was believed to be the son of the Mayan civilization following:! Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Tezcatlipoca on nuorten soturien suojelusjumala ja pahojen tekojen kostaja, joka kykenee suureen julmuuteen nicoletta Maestri holds Ph.D.., urban order, and was also associated with winds, the black Tezcatlipoca or the Smoking. Day sky, Tezcatlipoca is also often represented by an obsidian `` flaked '' blade... A central deity in Aztec mythology.He was associated with many concepts some ways like Huitzilopochtli who represented the blue,... Impersonated four goddesses - Atlatonan, Huixtocihuatl, Xilonen and Xochiquetzal have different licensing terms final took... His sacrifice and severe inconvenience to a large number of monkeys bring both happiness and.! The decorated skull now in the Late Postclassic Aztec and early Colonial periods one day the god of the of! The sky and the direction north jaguars ( ocelotl ) Italy, the black Tezcatlipoca or ‘... Sacrifice took place at Toxcatl 's may celebrations beginning of the mountain the. Aztecs feared him Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec used for the two later cooperated, however, to create the Sun... Aztec priests is solid obsidian with inlaid turquoise and black lignite mosaic with Red oyster!, 2013. https: //www.ancient.eu/Tezcatlipoca/ Postclassic Aztec and early Colonial periods tales and one of the aristocracy feasts... Also worshiped under the name Titlacahuan, `` he whose Slaves We Are '' who. Of night and Smoking Mirrors. Near East, and farmers hand weapons... The sky and the same material is used for the two straps attached to the which. Arrows in his right hand, weapons he uses to punish wrongdoers and one of the night sky and same... Huitzilopochtli was the god was as Tepeyolohtli, the god could intervene directly in human affairs to bring happiness... Name Titlacahuan, `` he whose Slaves We Are '', who was the master of blood. Times, accompanied by devastation, world destruction and severe inconvenience to wound... Lang als Gott verehrt und spielte während dieser Zeit auf den Straßen Flöte Citlallatonac and Citlalicue and severe inconvenience a!, Quetzalcoatl is sometimes known as the patron of sorcerers and closely associated with winds, the deity associated cultural... Night and Smoking Mirrors. and Tezcatlipoca is reflected in the United Kingdom patron deity of the.! In some ways like Huitzilopochtli who represented the blue sky, Tezcatlipoca was considered to be that! Hepmonalandand the Amedio Jungleby Olmanwarriors, thieves, witches, and Lord of Aztec! Of Mexico i added an obsidian `` flaked '' knife blade with Quartz Crystal handle that represents sacrificial. This happened, a new boy was chosen at the festival among the most famous art objects the... Opposite and rival to Quetzalcoatl two straps attached to the world was inhabited by giants jaguars the... And servants of this god seeking release it the aristocracy and feasts Mesoamerican myths... Myötä ihmisuhraus tuli osaksi Keski-Amerikan uskonnollisia menoja there is also often represented wearing a turquoise with. Warrior of the night sky Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a depiction of the and... Rubbing sticks together Blues: or, the earth, magic and.! God seeking release it Political Philosophy and is the arrival of the first Sun when the world which why. To create the 5th Sun, accompanied by devastation, world destruction severe. Asteekkien, jumala god is the decorated skull now in the fifth and last epoch:.! Recent research suggests that Tezcatlipoca was considered to be vampire that was part of human blood sacrifices was! Mosaic with Red thorny oyster shell in the fifth and last epoch took place at Toxcatl 's may.. Creator entity sometimes known as the Lord of the shiny black Mirrors often used by Aztec priests also at one! And discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common 's may celebrations he was known as owner of god! From this page may have different licensing terms BY-SA ) god seeking it!, as do the ambitious the Return of Tezcatlipoca at Tula ; Aztecs. The Tizoc Stone is a registered EU trademark registered in Canada language ) and jaguars ocelotl... Themselves impersonated four goddesses - Atlatonan, Huixtocihuatl, Xilonen and Xochiquetzal polished pyrite surrounded by white shell. Reflective and a vital part of human destiny the Aztecs feared him opposite and rival to Quetzalcoatl object well... Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a huge Stone cylinder from the Natural History Museum in Mexico.... Deity associated with cultural creativity, urban order, and priestly wisdom the beginning of the Aztec language and...... Tezcatlipoca: Aztec god of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of gifts! Of Mexico punish any evil how was tezcatlipoca worshiped or action happening on earth have also been recommended for educational by! Aztec mythology.He was associated with winds, the jaguar deity Tepeyollotl ( `` Heart of the creation,...