Chicomecoatl

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chicomecoatl in the Codex Magliabechiano

Chicomecoatl ( Nahuatl : seven snakes, also Centeocihatl or Chiccomeccatl ) was the goddess of the earth, of livelihood and of maize in Aztec mythology .

Assignments

Chicomecoatl is one of the numerous fertility gods of the Aztec pantheon. Her mythological profile is largely congruent with the Xilonens (the hairy one, alluding to the hair threads of the corn on the cob), the goddess of the young corn. The fertility goddesses also included Xochiquetzal (Precious Flower), Cihuacoatl (The Snake Woman ) and Ilmatecutli (The Old Mistress). Different numbers were associated with the different growth phases of the maize plant . While Chicomecoatl was responsible for the young maize as Xilonen, Ilmatecutli was seen in connection with the ripe maize. On the male side, there were Cinteotl and Xochipilli , which were also assigned to the main crop of the Aztecs, maize. Chicomecoatl was Tezcatlipoca's wife . In the Tonalamatl of the Codex Borbonicus , Chicomecoatl is assumed to be the fourth and eleventh month.

Appearance

Chicomecoatl was often represented in the Aztec Codices with the attributes Chalchiuhtlicues . You can see a similar headdress, red-colored skin, and lines on the cheeks. To distinguish it, however, Chicomecoatl carries corn on the cob. We can distinguish between three different representation patterns: the girl who carries flowers, the woman whose embrace brings death and the mother with a solar disk as a shield. As a sculpture, she carries two ears of corn in each hand.

Sacrificial cult

In order to ensure a rich harvest, human sacrifices were made to the maize goddess Xilonen on June 24th. Another girl who portrayed the maize goddess was sacrificed in September. It was first beheaded, then its blood was collected and poured over a sculpture of the goddess. The body of the dead girl was then skinned and a priest pulled the victim's skin on. In the same month, shrines dedicated to Chicomecoatl were adorned with maize plants in the houses and maize kernels were blessed in the temple.

literature

Web links

Commons : Chicomecoatl  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ George C. Vaillant: The Aztecs , page 178-180
  2. ↑ George C. Vaillant: The Aztecs , page 184
  3. ^ Encyclopedia Mythica