Huehueteotl (/ˌweɪweɪˈteɪoʊtəl/WAY-way-TAY-oh-təl;Nahuatl pronunciation:[weːweˈteoːt͡ɬ]) is an agedMesoamerican deity figuring in thepantheons ofpre-Columbian cultures, particularly inAztec mythology and others of the Central Mexico region. The spellingsHuehuetéotl andUeueteotl are also used. Although known mostly in the cultures of that region, images and iconography depicting Huehueteotl have been found at otherarchaeological sites across Mesoamerica, such as in the Gulf region, western Mexico, Protoclassic-era sites in theGuatemalan highlands such asKaminaljuyú and Late-Postclassic sites on the northernYucatán Peninsula (Miller and Taube, 1993:189). The name Huehueteotl stems fromNahuatlhuēhueh[ˈweːweʔ] ("old") andteōtl[ˈteoːt͡ɬ] ("god"). It seems to connect the Old God to certain Mayan deities calledMam ("Grandfather").
Huehueteotl is frequently considered to overlap with, or be another aspect of, a central Mexican/Aztec deity associated withfire,Xiuhtecuhtli. In particular theFlorentine Codex identifies Huehueteotl as an alternative epithet for Xiutecuhtli, and consequently that deity is sometimes referred to asXiutecuhtli-Huehueteotl.
However, Huehueteotl is characteristically depicted as an aged or even decrepit being, often with a beard, whereas Xiutecuhtli's appearance is much more youthful and vigorous, in line with his marked association with rulership and (youthful) warriors.[1][2]
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TheFlorentine Codex[3] describes an Aztec religious observance during the monthly feast ofIzcalli (dedicated to Xiuhtecuhtli and Tlaloc), when boys had to hunt in the swamps for small water-related animals, such as snakes, lizards, frogs and even dragonfly larvae, and present these to elders serving as the guardians of the fire deity. As a reward for the offerings, the priest would give them steamed corn dough (tamales) stuffed with amaranth greens. At this occasion the god was represented as young withturquoise andquetzal feathers for ceremonial purposes. Later during the month he appeared as aging and tired, covered with the colours of gold, black and red. Perhaps this transformation of young into old can explain the fact that in the codices, Xiuhtecuhtli appears as a vigorous young man, whereas his representations in stone show him to be aged and decrepit.
In another, more dramatic, and better known celebration, the Aztecs cut out the hearts of human sacrifices and burned them on coal. As a result of this, the people would regain Huehueteotl's favour through the god's elements —fire andblood.
Media related toHuehueteotl at Wikimedia Commons
