Gods of Mexico

 The pantheon of Mesoamerican Gods is composed of a variety of gods originating from the different peoples who inhabited the region of ancient Mexico and Central America known culturally as Mesoamerica.

History

The gods and goddesses of Mesoamerican cultures have diverse origins and a multiplicity of characters, whose genealogy and attributes were developed over the millennia until the people who worshipped them were conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors, who forcibly converted them to Christianity and prohibited the worship of the ancient Gods, driving them into dormancy.^[1]

Because of the power and influence of the Aztec Empire in the region, the deities are best known by their Aztec names, but they can also be known by names adopted from other Mesoamerican cultures, such as those of the Olmecs and Toltecs (supplanted by the Aztecs) and the Mayans. For example, the Feathered Serpent was initially an Olmec deity, later known as Quetzalcoatl by the Aztecs and Kukulcan by the Mayans; the Aztec god of the dead Mictlantecuhtli was called Ah Puch among the Mayans, while the Mayan god of rain was adopted by the Aztecs as Tlaloc; and the Aztecs also contributed their own original gods, such as their patron god of war Huitzilopochtli.

The gods live in the Thirteen Heavens in the divine realm, from where they command the elements of nature in the sky and on earth, influencing the lives of human beings, creation of Quetzalcoatl, and all other beings. The region of the dead, ruled by Mictlantecuhtli, is called Mictlan.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• Godly Physiology
  • Immortality
  • Magic
  • Power Distribution: The Mesoamerican gods can grant their powers to others, usually in exchange for human sacrifice.^[2]
  • Additionally, the Mesoamerican gods have some power related to his/her individual sphere of influence.

Weaknesses

• Power Loss: Similar to other pantheons, the Mesoamerican gods draw greater power from the act of worship. When the number of worshippers diminishes, the gods within the Mesoamerican pantheon, along with their power, gradually decline as well.^[1]

Miscellaneous

Type of Government:

Imperial

Level of Technology:

Magic

Cultural Traits:

The Mesoamerican gods have a culture that resembles that of the Pre-Columbian peoples of Mexico and Central America.

Representatives:

• Primordial Gods:
  • Ometeotl ("Dual God" or "Two Gods"), the first divinity, who became two (Omecihuatl and Ometecuhtli) to be able to reproduce all creation; it's the "Dual Divinity",^[3] the God of the near and close.^[4]
    • Omecihuatl ("The Lord of the Two")
    • Ometecuhtli ("The Lady of the Two")

• Creator Gods: They are the four sons of Omecihuatl and Ometecuhtli, in charge of the creation of the world and living beings.
  • Huitzilopochtli, God of war, the Sun and fire.
  • Quetzalcoatl/Kukulcan, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds.
  • Tezcatlipoca, God of darkness, lord of the night.
  • Xipe Totec, God of ritual flaying and agriculture, lord of seasons and regeneration.^[5]

• Created Gods: Those arising from the four creator brothers, responsible for helping them care for their creation.
  • Chalchiuhtlicue, Goddess of water, sea and storms.
  • Coatlicue, Mother Goddess of fertility, patroness of life and death; consort of Mixcoatl and daughter of Tlaltecuhtli.^[6]
  • Mictlantecuhtli/Ah Puch, God of the dead, ruler of the Underworld.
  • Mixcoatl, God of the hunt and war; consort of Coatlicue and father of Xolotl.
  • Tlaloc, God of rain, water and lightning.
  • Tlaltecuhtli, God of earth, father of Coatlicue.^[7]
  • Tonatiuh, Sun God of the daytime sky.^[8][7]

• Minor Gods: They are minor deities generally associated with other major gods.
  • Camazotz, Bat God of the night, death, and sacrifice.^[7][9]
  • Nextepehua, God of the ashes in the Underworld.^[10]
  • Xolotl, God of fire and lightning, lord of monsters, misfortune and death; son of Mixcoatl and servant of Mictlantecuhtli.

• Others: These are the general servants of the gods in the Thirteen Heavens.
  • Nagual, shapeshifting sorcerers^[11]
  • Quinametzin Liches, undead giants^[11]

Known Agents

• Acrata
• Aztek
• Feathered Serpent
• Jessica Cruz
• Talaoc
• Tezumak
  

Notes

• These characters are an adaptation of the Mesoamerican Gods, characters in traditional stories. These include, but may not be limited to religious texts, myth, and/or folk lore. More information on the original can be found at Wikipedia.org.
  • See also:
    • List of Aztec gods and supernatural beings
    • List of Maya gods and supernatural beings

See Also

• Appearances of Gods of Mexico
• Race Gallery: Gods of Mexico

Links and References