
In a culture known for its violence and expansion, Huitzilpochtli also makes a good case for the most important Aztec god. So, why is it significant that he is looking outward? It stands for the outward expansion of the Aztec empire. The one looking outward is one of the other Aztec gods, known as Huitzilopochtli. Early depictions at Tetihuácan usually show two snake gods: one looking inward to the city (Quetzalcoatl) and the other looking outward. Also, it’s one of the most prominent examples of pyramids in America. The temple at Tetihuácan is one of the first representations of Quetzalcoatl. Parents: Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl Siblings: Quetzalcoatl and two other Tezcatlipocasįun fact: Was so bright that he could only be seen when using a shield for sun protection Other realms: Aztec sun god, human sacrifice, patron of Tetihuácan READ MORE: Quetzalcoatl: The Feathered Serpent Deity of Ancient Mesoamerica Huitzilopochtli: The Aztec God of War and Sun God

It was believed that he’d occasionally leave the earth and come back in a new shape, eventually leading to his transformation from a feathered serpent to something more human-like.īecause of his reincarnation, he is also seen as the god of knowledge and wisdom, the god of corn, and the god of the priesthood, amongst others. The Feathered Serpent is, however, much more than that. Or, rather, the first installment of human civilization. Since he basically allowed people to live after the fourth eclipse, he is seen as the personification of the fifth sun. Here, the Feathered Serpent entered Mictlan, the deepest level of the Aztec underworld, where he gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth.īy adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a civilization of new creatures to emerge. He did so by making a trip to the underworld. After the fourth eclipse, this would include human life for the first time in Aztec history. Quetzalcoatl is often held responsible for the remaking of life after the eclipse. While former life on earth vanished because of the fourth eclipse, the realm of gods was still alive and kicking. According to the Aztecs, the second and fifth coming of the sun were realized thanks to potentially the most important Aztec god of all, Quetzalcoatl. So, how did he do it? This is connected to the sun cycles of Aztec mythology. He is seen as the very god that gave life to (the Aztec) people. Quetzalcoatl, better known as the Feathered Serpent, was one of the most important Aztec gods and a jack of all trades.

Nicknames: Feathered Serpent, White Tezcatlipoca, Supreme God Parents: Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl Siblings: Xolotl and three Tezcatlipocasįun Fact: Potentially the only Aztec god who didn’t require human sacrifices Other Realms: Wisdom, Aztec Priests, Corn, Aztec Calendar, Books.

All four brothers were responsible for different events that created the universe and life on earth. The four brothers were given birth by Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, or the form in which these come together: Ometeotl. The group of brothers is called the Tezcatlipocas. Four, in particular, were seen as the most important because they, together, designed the world and placed every other deity in their appropriate realms. And many are still remembered and worshiped today. Of these hundreds of gods, several stood out as figureheads of ancient Mexican religions.

