Tezcatlipoca

Tezcatlipoca was a central deity in the Aztec religion.

His name is translated from Nahuatl as "smoking mirror." This name refers to his connection to obsidian. Obsidian is a dark volcanic glass used to make mirrors in Mesoamerica. These mirrors were used for prophecy and shamanic rituals. Because of this, Tezcatlipoca is associated with divination. He was a complex god linked to the night sky, hurricanes, and conflict. He was considered one of the four sons of the primordial dual deity, Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl.

Tezcatlipoca held many different roles and identities. The scholar Bernardino de Sahagún recorded 360 different forms of the god in the Florentine Codex. These names, or epithets, showed his many sides. Some names described his power over people. For example, Titlacahuan means "[of whom] we are [his] servants." Other names focused on his wisdom, such as Tehimatini, which means "the wise." He was also seen as a creator, called Teyocoyani. Yet, he was also known as Yáotl, meaning "the enemy." This variety shows he was both a provider and a force of destruction.

Specific symbols and colors helped identify him in art.

His face paint, called mixchictlapanticac, usually featured horizontal black and yellow bands. Some scholars believe these colors connect him to the jaguar. The jaguar was his nagual, or animal counterpart. In this form, he was known as Tepeyollotl, meaning "Mountainheart."

Black was his primary color. This distinguished him from other gods like Quetzalcoatl, who was associated with white. He is often depicted with an obsidian mirror on his chest or in his hand. This mirror often appears to be emanating smoke.

A famous myth explains why his physical form appeared unusual. Tezcatlipoca is often shown with a missing right foot. In Aztec creation myths, he lost his foot while battling the earth monster, Cipactli. In place of the foot, artists drew an obsidian mirror, a bone, or a serpent. He also wore an anahuatl, which was a chest pectoral carved from abalone shell. Other items included headdresses of feathers, flowers, or flint knives. He might also wear jewelry made of gold and jade.

The origins of Tezcatlipoca may stretch back to earlier civilizations. Historians trace his roots to deities worshipped by the Olmec and Maya. There are similarities between him and the K'iche' Maya god, Tohil. Tohil also refers to obsidian and was associated with sacrifice. Some also see links to the Maya god K'awiil, who had a smoking obsidian knife in his forehead. Archaeologists debate whether Tezcatlipoca was a new Aztec creation. Or, he may have been an expansion of older Mesoamerican foundations. The Aztecs frequently took deliberate inspiration from the cultures that came before them.

Tezcatlipoca was deeply involved in the Aztec calendar. He ruled the trecena, or 13-day period, known as 1 Ocelotl ("1 Jaguar"). He was also the patron of days named Acatl ("reed"). In the Codex Borgia, he is shown surrounded by day signs. This suggests he held mastery over the entire calendar. His main festival was Toxcatl. This religious festival involved human sacrifice. The importance of the god is also seen in the temple architecture. Many of his temples were built facing east-west. This aligned the sacred buildings with the movement of the sun.

Priests played a vital role in honoring the god. They often wore white turkey feather headdresses and paper loincloths. Some priests covered themselves in black soot or charcoal during rituals. This helped them associate with the darkness of the god. They might also use a black ointment on the sick or on new kings. Some children were even offered to his service by their parents. Priests also used a unique symbol called the ezpitzal. This was a stream of blood shown coming from the head. It could also look like a headband or garland of flowers.