Templo Mayor, Mexico-City
Main temple at the ceremonial center of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire.
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The name Coyolxauhqui means "painted with bells", since she is commonly depicted with bells on her cheeks. The Aztec mythology tells the following story about her:
As the pious and virtuous primordial mother Coatlicue ("the one with the snake skirt") swept the temple at the Coatepec, she found a bundle of precious feathers, which she put away under her skirt. Without her knowing, these feathers made her become pregnant. This misterious pregnancy embarrased her sons, the Centzon Huitznahua ("the four hundred - or uncountable Southern"), and her daughter Coyolxauhqui, who decided to kell her mother. When they arrived at the Coatepec, Coatlicue had already given birth to Huitzilopochtli in full war armor, who decapitated Coyolxauhqui, throwing her body down the hill, smashing it into pieces. Only a few of the Centzon Huitznahua could escape to the South, where since then the can be seen as stars in the sky.
Summary according to: Karl Taube, Aztekische und Maya-Mythen, Stuttgart 1994.
© Copyright translation: Haupt & Binder. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction only allowed with the permission of UiU
© Photo: Haupt & Binder
Main temple at the ceremonial center of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire.