Accessed on . Quetzalcoatl is also called White Tezcatlipoca, to contrast him to the black Tezcatlipoca. Originally he symbolized the night sky, and for that reason he is related to the stellar gods, to the moon, and to those that signify death, evil, or destruction. Do we sell Tezcatlipoca graphic novels, books, video or role-playing games (RPG)? Meehan, Evan. Tezcatlipoca (/tɛskɑːtliˈpoʊkə/; Classical Nahuatl: Tezcatlipōca pronounced [teskatɬiˈpoːka]) was a central deity in Aztec religion, and his main festival was the Toxcatl ceremony celebrated in the month of May. He was often represented by an obsidian mirror, though his power extended far beyond obsidian. He was known as Black Tezcatlipoca or the “mirror that smokes”, god of the day and of Texcoco. The god Quetzalcoatl, is the Feathered Serpent or Precious Twin. Oxford: ABC-CLIO, 2000. Tezcatlipoca is the God of the Apocalypse, the most powerful entity in the Accelerated World, created specifically for the purpose of ending the world. 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. The Gods have provided us with a robust privacy and cookie policy which all mortals are advised to read. ↩, Wikipedia contributors, “Tezcatlipoca,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tezcatlipoca (accessed July 13, 2019). Usually seen as the opposite of his brother Quetzalcoatl. Despite some superficial similarities to the Aztec deity—such as an affinity for mirrors—the character was ultimately very different from his inspiration. A key feature of the Aztec religion were annual festivals dedicated to each major deity. In the form of Aztec pictorial writing, this story must be one of the most exciting comic strips ever. Area of expertise: Night, Good/Evil Rating: BAD, best avoided He was also taught to play the flute, the sound of which was thought to be the voice of Tezcatlipoca.8 A month prior to the festival of Toxcatl, he would be wed to four young women impersonating the four goddess wives of Tezcatlipoca: Xochiquetzal, Xilonen, Atlatonan and Huixtocihuatl. Tenochtitlan, the seat of the Aztec empire, was located in a volcanic region, where smoke and venting steam would have been commonplace. A supreme god of the Aztecs, Tezcatlipoca which means “smoking mirror” was the patron god of sorcery and … Tezcatlipoca is a character in Onyx Equinox. In addition to his shapeshifting ability, Tezcatlipoca also appeared as several different gods who wer… This explains his association with the first day of the thirteen-day Aztec calendar which is represented by a jaguar. 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 tricked the king Topiltzin-Quetzalcoatl, a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl, into becoming heavily intoxicated on pulque (an alcoholic beverage made from agave). Transformed into giant snakes, the two gods attacked and dismembered the female reptilian monster known as Cipactli , one part became the earth and the other the sky. He is closely associated with the jaguars which the Aztecs considered as a symbol of hunting, warfare, and sacrifice. Ever since you were born, you were raised to be one of the many women who looked after the prisoners of war who were to be sacrificed each month to the respective god. The Aztec god Tezcatlipoca was a powerful, omnipresent deity, one of the creators of the Aztec world, and often represented by a smoking mirror. Tezcatlipoca’s actions were costly, however; he lost his left foot in the process. He is happiest when leading people down the garden path to evil. Phillips, Henry Jr. “Notes upon the Codex Ramirez, with a Translation of the Same.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 21, no. https://mythopedia.com/aztec-mythology/gods/tezcatlipoca/. Please do not copy without permission. Transformed into giant snakes, the two gods attacked and dismembered the female reptilian monster known as Tlaltcuhtli (or Cipactli), one part became the e… Wikipedia contributors. Any reflection was a portal through which he could view the world. Accessed July 13, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tloquenahuaque. 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. Mythopedia. He is the god of the nocturnal sky, god of the ancestral memory, god of time and the Lord of the North, the embodiment of change through conflict. As with his elder brother Xipe Totec, the Aztecs offered Tezcatlipoca annual human sacrifices. Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present, In charge of: the Night Article last revised on April 09, 2019 by Rowan Allen. For official Godchecker merch please visit our God Shop where a wide range of items are available to buy. This has alternatively been translated as “next to whom is the being of all things, conserving them and sustaining them.” Historian Miguel Leon Portilla believes that it referred to Ometeotl, the combined deity of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. Evan Meehan is a freelance writer, researcher, and historian with an M.A. Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca was a significant god in Aztec religion. Tezcatlipoca was an important god in the Aztec religion. Such rituals all connected back to Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca was sometimes cast as the supernatural antagonist of Quetzalcoatl, the deity associated with cultural creativity, urban order, and priestly wisdom. 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. If you wish to use our material in your essay, book, article, website or project, please consult our permissions page. Tezcatlipoca was the second son of the primordial Aztec creator deities Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. But despite being a nasty piece of work, he’s a handsome chap who once seduced the beautiful Xochiquetzal. The god of the night, Tezcatlipoca was an enemy of Quetzalcoatl. Meehan, Evan. Handbook of Mesoamerican Mythology. After his fall, Tezcatlipoca was transformed from a humanoid to a jaguar, becoming more associated with night, witches, thieves, and others who perform deeds under the cover of darkness. Accessed June 19, 2019. https://www.jstor.org/stable/982343. Tezcatlipoca is the Smoking Mirror. There are many stories about this Demon god and his activities. In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Quetzalcoatl, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec. He was involved in the earth’s creation, commanded jaguars, oversaw sacrifices, and presided over the night sky. He was labeled the god of the nocturnal sky, temptation, sorcery, and war. Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders. Depictions of Tezcatlipoca frequently replaced one of his feet with an obsidian mirror. The band Mastodon referenced Tezcatlipoca in their song ‘Jaguar God.’ The lines “Smoking mirrors black obsidian” and “Lord of the near and the nigh” were both direct references to Tezcatlipoca. Aztec Night-time God Also known as Omacatl, Smoking Mirror, Tezcalipoca, Titlacauan The all-important God of Night, Death and Confusion He is the old arch-rival of Top God Quetzalcoatl and spent most of his time during the Creation of the Universe bashing, crashing and smashing his enemy’s work instead of doing anything constructive. In this process, Tezcatlipoca lost his foot when he used it as bait for the Earth Monster Cipactli. Every year, a young man—typically a prisoner of war—was chosen to represent Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca was believed to be the son of the primordial androgynous god Ometeotl. ↩, Wikipedia contributors, “Tōxcatl,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dxcatl (accessed July 15, 2019). Tezcatlipoca played many contradictory roles in Aztec mythology. He is the old arch-rival of Top God Quetzalcoatl and spent most of his time during the Creation of the Universe bashing, crashing and smashing his enemy’s work instead of doing anything constructive. Just copy the text in the box below. Tezcatlipoca, the Shadow God, is the Aztec god of darkness and a powerful enemy of Wonder Woman and the heroes called Aztek. Popularity index: 4213. Originally adopted from the Toltecs, Tezcatlipoca is with the horned owl and the jaguar, the latter of which he is known to shapeshift into its form at will. Tezcatlipoca’s name means “Smoking Mirror.” Evan Meehan, “Tezcatlipoca,” Mythopedia, accessed , https://mythopedia.com/aztec-mythology/gods/tezcatlipoca/. “Tōxcatl.” Wikipedia. “Tloquenahuaque.” Wikipedia. Tezcatlipoca (smoking mirror) was the first god to be a sun. Angered by this inadequacy, Quetzalcoatl “gave [Tezcatlipoca] a blow with a great stick, and threw him over into the water.”6 He then proceeded to turn himself into the second sun. The antagonism between Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl began to grow shortly after the former turned himself into the first sun. Boulder, CO: University of Colorado Press, 2014. The two later cooperated, however, to create the 5th Sun. Copyright © 1999-2020 Godchecker, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2019 Wasai LLC – All Rights Reserved. Obsidian was used for more than just its reflective properties, however. “Tezcatlipoca.” Wikipedia. Name: Tezcatlipoca Tezcatlipoca (pronounced Tez-kat-lee-po’-ka), an omnipresent god capable of shapeshifting into a jaguar, was an incredibly important member of the Aztec pantheon. Examples: JUPITER, JUP, JUPI, Also known as Omacatl, Smoking Mirror, Tezcalipoca, Titlacauan. Type: God Please mention Godchecker.com when praying to the Gods. He was considered the patron god of warriors. POW! History. In the manga Soul Eater, Tezca Tlipoca is a recurring character. In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Quetzalcoatl , Huitzilopochtli and Xipe Totec . In the complex Mesoamerican creation myths Tezcatlipoca ruled the first world of the Sun but was then overthrown by Quetzalcóatl. Tezcatlipoca is regarded by the Aztecs as the god of the night, king of witches and the patron god of Aztec kings and young warriors. Tezcatlipoca entered the underworld by climbing down a giant spider web. Tezcatlipoca (テスカトリポカ, Tesukatoripoka) is the god worshiped by the Aztecs.Warriors Jaguars and servants of this god seeking release it. Quetzalcoatl is a primordial god of creation, a giver of life. After his brother was made whole, Tezcatlipoca and his brother Quetzalcoatl created the world.5. A lover of chaotic confusion, he carries a smoking mirror which bewilders enemies and confuses the issues. ↩, Some Aztec legends, like those in the Ramirez Codex, say that Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli were responsible for creating the world. Sometimes he was shown as a partner in creation, but more often he was shown as a god of judgment and destruction. Together with his eternal opposite Quetzalcoatl, he created the world. 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