Huitzilipochtli
Huitzilipochtli, or Mexitli, the terrible god of war, whose name signifies "the left-handed warrior," was without contradiction the most honored divinity among the Aztecs, who, as we have seen, considered…
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From The Aztecs: Their History, Manners, and Customs by Lucien Biart, translated by John Leslie Garner, 1900.
Huitzilipochtli, or Mexitli, the terrible god of war, whose name signifies "the left-handed warrior," was without contradiction the most honored divinity among the Aztecs, who, as we have seen, considered themselves as his special proteges. Some thought that this god was a pure spirit, others that he was of a human nature.
According to tradition, at Coatepec, a town near the old city of Tollan, lived a woman named Coatlicue, devoted to the worship of the gods. One day when, according to her custom, she was sweeping the temple, she saw fall from heaven a ball formed of feathers, which she picked up and preserved in her bosom, intending to use the feathers to decorate the altar. Her work ended, she in vain sought for the ball; at the same time she felt herself big with child. Her pregnancy became perceptible, and was noticed by her sons.
Although they did not doubt their mother's virtue, they dreaded the shame that would be reflected on them by her deliverance, and resolved to kill her. Coatlicue, having learned of the intentions of her sons, was seized with fear. When she was thus afflicted a voice came from her breast, which said to her: "Have no fear, mother, I will save you, with honor to you and glory to me." Nevertheless, her sons, urged thereto by their sister Coyolnauhqui, more excited than they, were preparing to commit the crime they had premeditated, when Huitzilipochtli was born, a shield in his left hand, a lance in his right hand, his head surmounted by a green plume, his face surrounded with blue rays, and his left leg ornamented with feathers.
As soon as born he caused a serpent to appear, which, transformed into a torch, consumed Coyolnauhqui, as the most guilty. By the light of this torch the god rushed upon his brothers with such impetuosity that in spite of their efforts and their prayers all were massacred. These feats terrified those who witnessed them, and secured for the new-born the name of Tetzahuitl ("terror.")
The special protector of the Aztecs, Huitzilipochtli, according to their traditions, conducted them to the lakes in the midst of which they founded the city of Mexico. There they erected the immense temple which so excited the wonder of the Spaniards, in which they placed a colossal statue of the fierce divinity. This statue, which was of wood, represented a man seated on a pedestal painted blue, to represent the sky, from each angle of which a serpent issued. The forehead of the idol was of an azure tint, and his face was crossed from ear to ear by a band of the same color. On his head was placed a helmet, in the form of a bird, whose golden beak held a bunch of green feathers. Around the neck of this monstrous figure was a collar representing six human hearts. In his right hand he held, like a sceptre, a waving serpent of a bluish color, and in the left a buckler fringed with yellow feathers, on which were five balls also made of feathers and arranged in the form of a cross. From the upper part of the shield proceeded, four arrows, sent, they said, by heaven to the god as a reward for his terrible actions. His head was also sometimes surmounted by the head of a vulture or of a tiger.
On the body of the hideous statue were numerous images of animals, carved out of gold or precious stones,—ornaments each one of which had its special signification. The god was always hidden by a veil, as a sign of respect. When a war broke out the Aztecs hastened to implore his aid, and to him they sacrificed the largest number of human victims.
Besides one of his young brothers, Tlacahuepan-Cuexcotzin, who, like himself, presided over the affairs of war, Huitzilipochtli had a lieutenant named Paynal (“swift”) charged with directing unexpected attacks, surprises, and assaults. In case of war, priests placed the image of this divinity on their shoulders, and went through all the streets of the city at a rapid pace. At the sight of him all the soldiers were required to take up arms immediately.
Biart, Lucien. The Aztecs: Their History, Manners, and Customs. Translated by John Leslie Garner, A.C. McClurg & Co, 1900.
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