Xiuhcoatl
In
Xiuhcoatl was a common subject of
Attributes
Typically, Xiuhcoatl was depicted with a sharply back-turned snout and a segmented body. Its tail resembled the trapeze-and-ray year sign and probably does represent that symbol. In Nahuatl, the word xihuitl means "year", "turquoise", and "grass". Often, the tail of Xiuhcoatl is marked with the Aztec symbol for "grass". The body of the Xiuhcoatl was wrapped with knotted strips of paper, linking the serpent to bloodletting and sacrifice.[4]
In the
Although the Fire Serpent easily may be traced back to the Early Postclassic period in Tula, its ultimate origins are unclear. During the Classic Period, the War Serpent of Teotihuacan was probably a forerunner of Xiuhcoatl, it was also depicted with the grass symbol, flames, and the trapeze-and-ray year symbol.[4]
Mythology
Xiuhcoatl was considered to be the
Ritual
During the Panquetzaliztli ceremony, Xiuhcoatl was represented by a paper serpent with red feathers emerging from its open maw to represent flames. During the ceremony, burning torches also symbolized Xiuhcoatl and a serpent dance was performed.[9]
Notes
- ^ a b "Stone figure of Xiuhcoatl".
- ^ López Austin 2002, p.142.
- ^ Olivier & López Luján, p.85.
- ^ a b c d Miller & Taube 1993, 2003, pp.188-189.
- ^ Fernández 1992, 1996, pp.107, 160.
- ^ Read & Gonzalez 2000, pp.194, 230.
- ^ Read & Gonzalez 2000, pp.194, 230. Miller & Taube 1993, 2003, p.188.
- ^ Matos Moctezuma & Solis Olguín 2002, p.414.
- ^ Matos Moctezuma 1988, p.140.
References
- OCLC 29565779.
- Fernández, Adela (1996) [1992]. Dioses Prehispánicos de México (in Spanish). Mexico City: Panorama Editorial. OCLC 59601185.
- López Austin, Alfredo (2002). "The Natural World". In Eduardo Matos Moctezuma; Felipe Solis Olguín (eds.). Aztecs. London: OCLC 56096386.
- OCLC 17968786.
- OCLC 56096386.
- OCLC 28801551.
- Olivier, Guilhem; López Luján; Leonardo (2009). "Images of Moctezuma and his symbols of power". In Colin McEwan; Leonardo López Luján (eds.). Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler. London: OCLC 416257004.
- Read, Kay Almere; Jason González (2000). Handbook of Mesoamerican Mythology. Oxford: OCLC 43879188.