Huītzilōpōchtli

Huitzilopochtli (Classical Nahuatl: Huītzilōpōchtli, IPA: [wiːt͡siloːˈpoːt͡ʃt͡ɬi] ) is the solar and war deity of sacrifice in Aztec religion. He was also the patron god of the Aztecs and their capital city, Tenochtitlan. He wielded Xiuhcoatl, the fire serpent, as a weapon, thus also associating Huitzilopochtli with fire.

Huitzilopochtli
God of war and will, Lord of the Sun and fire.

Patron god of the Mexica

Ruler of the South
Member of the Tezcatlipocas
Huitzilopochtli as depicted in the Codex Borbonicus
Other namesBlue Tezcatlipoca, Omiteotl, Mextli, Mexi, Huitzitlon, Huitzilton, Tzintzuni, Huitzi, Huichilobos, Vichilobos, Opochtli, Inaquizcoatl-Tezcatlipoca
Abode
  • Ilhuicatl-Teteocan (Twelfth Heaven)
  • Ilhuicatl-Xoxoauhco (Seventh Heaven)
  • the South
SymbolHummingbird
GenderMale
RegionMesoamerica
Ethnic groupAztec, (Mexica)
FestivalsPanquetzaliztli
Personal information
Parents
  • Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl (Codex Zumarraga)
  • Mixcoatl and Coatlicue (Codex Florentine)
Siblings
ChildrenNone

The Spaniards recorded the deity's name as Huichilobos. During their discovery and conquest of the Aztec Empire, they wrote that human sacrifice was common in worship ceremonies. These took place frequently throughout the region. When performed, typically multiple victims were sacrificed per day at any one of the numerous temples.

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