Friday, April 27, 2018

X: Xochiquetzal

Image result for xochiquetzal goddess

Xochiquetzal ("Precious Feather Flower" in Nahuatl) is the Aztec goddess of beauty, love, and the arts, including painting, weaving, sculpting, and embroidery. Patroness of lovers and prostitutes, she once seduced a priest and then turned him into a scorpion. (Maybe it was something he said.) She is also associated with flowers and plants, which is fitting because she was the wife of Tlaloc, the rain god. Her festival included offerings of marigolds.

In a plot twist reminiscent of the story of Persephone and Hades, Xochiquetzal was abducted by Tezcatlipoca, the malevolent god of night. He was perhaps motivated by the fact that she never showed her age, always appearing in the "bloom of youth." Talk about the ultimate trophy wife. Her hubby Tlaloc never came to fetch her, but Tezcatlipoca eventually let her go free. Xochiquetzal returned to the Aztec paradise of Tamoanchan, the home of the gods.

Humans could reach Tamoanchan after death, but it took some work. First, they had to pass through Xibalba, the "place of fright," where one would face rivers of blood, attack by obsidian knives, and underworld gods with cheery names such as Pus Master and Skull Sceptre. After getting through that ordeal, the dead could then begin the long, slow process of climbing their way up Xochitlicacan, the Tree of Life. 

Thanks to the Aztecs, I was able to work three X's into today's post. Feeling pretty proud of myself :-) 




4 comments:

  1. And so you should be feeling proud of yourself, Jenny! As someone who finally had to settle for a book called 'Extraordinary' I doff my imaginary cap to you :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think your choice works just fine, Karen!

      Delete
  2. There is something very scary about Aztec gods! I remember reading once about a god of springtime and thought, "Oh, how sweet!" till I read that he liked having children sacrificed to him... Nice to hear there's one who just wants marigolds!

    Aussie Children's Writers: Y is for Erica Yurken
    https://suebursztynski.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-2018-y-is-for.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, the Aztecs were definitely bloody and intense. So much flaying. *shudders*

    ReplyDelete