Bernardino de Sahagún describes Coatlicue in his account of the birth of Huitzilopochtli, the deity who led the Mexica people to Tenochtitlan. Coatlicue, whose name means "Serpent Skirt," was the Earth goddess of life and death in the Aztec mythology. Rising to his mother's defence the god sprang from the womb fully-grown and fully-armed as an invincible warrior. ... Manuscripts in the Middle Ages were produced in factories in which hundreds of duplicate pages were made quickly using a printing press. Coatlicue is represented as a woman wearing a skirt of writhing snakes and a necklace made of human hearts, hands, and skulls. An Aztec sculptor created her out of an igneous rock … A beautiful,new handmade Coatlicue the Mexica version, aztec earth goddess and mother of gods, she of the serpent skirt. 2. [1] It is currently housed in the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City, along with other monuments that depict similarities in iconography. She was commonly portrayed with a face of serpents in place of a human head, and her hands were likewise replaced with snakes. The giant pyramid was covered in snake sculpture and even the shadows cast by its steps were designed to reference Mt. The most iconic representation of Coatlicue is the colossal basalt statue in Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología. Her skirt is made from entwined snakes, giving rise to her sobriquet, “Serpent Skirt.” Connections to the earth and motherhood can clearly be seen through a reading of the monument’s iconography. The goddess famously warned the Mexica of their future demise. Cartwright, Mark. Serpents represent both fertility and the earth in Aztec iconography. ... portable homes made of wooden poles and bark or hides: great plains. Her children became angry and plotted to kill her, but the ball of feathers—later Huitzilopochtli—comforted Coatlicue from the womb and later was born at the perfect moment in order to kill Coyolxauhqui and her four hundred siblings. Her feet are talons with claws and feathers and there are signs that the statue was once brightly painted. Coatlicue is wearing a necklace of severed human hands and hearts, with a large skull pendant. Coatlicue was a goddess thirsty of human sacrifices. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. Each of its components was meant to work in dialogue with one another. The overall symmetry of the work only further supports the dual nature. Scholars generally accept this monument as representing the deity Coatlicue, or “Snakes Her Skirt.” The monument stands eight feet and nine inches tall, four feet and three inches wide, and four feet and three inches deep. She also wears her typical skirt of entwined snakes whilst her hands and feet have the large claws which she uses to rip up human corpses before she eats them. Google Classroom Facebook Twitter. Coatlicue is depicted with a skirt made of rattlesnakes and a belt fastened by human skulls. [8] Again, a pairing of two is made between a male earth lord and a female earth mother. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. It was created during the Mexican Revolution. Then, and only then, would her son Huitzilopochtli return to her side. The head of the goddess looks like two snakes looking right at each other. The feet and hands of the goddess are claws. [5] In general there is a connection between fertility and the earth as the Mexica economy and society was largely agriculturally based. Templo Mayor at Tenochtitlan, the Coyolxauhqui Stone, and an Olmec Mask . The gender of the two figures is opposing, but this does not bar the two from working together. The basalt statue of Coatlicue is one of several that have been unearthed, but this one contains the most detail. Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City) A conversation with Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank and Dr. Steven Zucker She stands on two legs like a human, has two arms, and even features exposed breasts which sag to symbolize many years of being a mother. Serpents represent both fertility and the earth in Aztec iconography. Related Content Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Coatlicue (pron. Ancient History Encyclopedia. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Because her breasts are exposed, one associates her with motherhood and life-giving qualities. In the first version of this mythical duel, Coyolxauhqui upset her son Huitzilopochtli when she insisted on staying at the legendary sacred mountain Coatepec ('Snake Mountain', also spelt Coatepetl) and not following Huitzilopochtli’s plan to re-settle at a new site – the eventual Tenochtitlan. In another myth involving the goddess she warned the Mexica of their future demise. Is the primary motive of this monument to bring about thoughts of life or death? The plot came unstuck, though, when one of the Huiztnaua lost heart and decided to warn the still unborn Huitzilopochtli. In 1790, renovators found this massive monument buried under the Zócalo, the major plaza of Mexico City. A statue of Coatlicue, also known as the Coatlicue Stone, was created between 1300 and 1500 in Tenochtitlan, Mexico. Her two snake heads facing each other, represent … Coatlicue was traditionally portrayed wearing a skirt of writhing snakes. Aside from her skirt, Coatlicue also wore a necklace of alternating hands and human hearts. This was perhaps because Coatlicue played such an important role in Aztec cosmology, especially with respect to the story of creation. Coatlicue was also the patron of childbirth, was associated with warfare, governance and agriculture, and considered the female aspect of the primordial god Ometeotl. This use of Aztec iconography suggested that Coatlicue had been dismembered, with the twin head snakes possibly repre… In Aztec mythology Coatlicue was actually a priestess whose job was to maintain the shrine on the top of the legendary sacred mountain Coatepec ('Snake Mountain', also spelt Coatepetl). Which, if any, ... What are some facts associated with Saturnino Herrán's Coatlicue Transformed (central panel of Our Gods)? Coatlicue (/kwɑːtˈliːkweɪ/) “skirt of snakes” “mother of the gods”, is the Mexica-Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon, stars, and Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war. "Coatlicue." Interestingly enough, she can still be read as human. Coatlicue. 22 Jan 2021. She stands at eight feet, six inches, and is located in the Museo Nacional de Antropologia in Mexico City. However, overburdened with gifts, these hapless magicians got bogged down in a sand hill and the goddess revealed that the Aztec cities would fall one by one. There appears to be feathers or fur of some kind going up the legs of the statuette. The myth may also symbolise the daily victory of the Sun (one of Huitzilpochtli's associations) over the Moon and stars. (Nahuatl: “Snake Skirt”) Who is the Goddess Coatlicue ? [4] The combination of human and non-human body parts presents an interesting depiction of how the Mexica conceptualized being a mother and giving life. They were also meant to work in dialogue with other works. [6] Eagle feathers symbolized the cosmos, or the sky, in Mexica iconography. A famous statue in Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology represents the idea of Coatlicue as creator and destroyer. License. [3] León-Portilla and Shorris, "Sacred Narrative," 206-207. Coatlicue. She wears wrist bands of streamers and leg bands of eagle feathers and bells. Cartwright, Mark. Great desk decor. The statue was discovered in 1790 CE but was thought so terrifying that it was immediately reburied. This idea of two concepts being compared can be seen primarily through the two serprents that form the godess’ head, which face each other as if literally “butting heads.” The juxtaposition between both serpent and eagle motifs create a contradiction between land, or the earth, and the sky, or the cosmos. Because she features serpent qualities, one relates her to fertility, as serpents are largely understood to be symbols of fertility in Mexica works. She wears a necklace of hearts, hands, and a skull—or symbols of life and death. She gave birth to the god of the sun – Huitzilopochtli, and re-birthed her favorite daughter goddess Coyolxauhqui as the moon. She also wears an apron made of a skull, leather, shells, and eagle feathers on her back. . The statue is called Coatlicue and was found in Tenochtitlan, the middle of Mexico city. Furthering the theme of serpents, her head is composed of two snake heads facing each other to resemble a single, forward-facing face. The feathers also point to the ancient narrative of Huitzilopotchli’s founding of Tenochtitlan—as the city was marked by an eagle perched on a cactus. The title of this sculpture is The Goddess Coatlicue. Though the Aztcs had many gods and goddesses, Coatlicue was considered an important deity. Last modified November 28, 2013. [7] Many aspects—such as the inclusion of both land and sky iconography—seem to be contradictory or dualistic. Co-at-li-cu-e) or ‘Snake Skirt’ was an important deity in the Aztec pantheon and was considered the goddess of mother earth. She also had sharp claws in her hands and feet. It is important, though, to remember the original purpose of the sculpture as seen in large part through the Tlaltecuhtli relief. The skirt is topped with a belt made of similar intertwined serpents. Discover Coatlicue Statue in Mexico City, Mexico: Come face to face with the ferocious visage of the serpent-headed mother goddess of the Aztecs. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 28 November 2013 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Statue of Coatlicue displayed in National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico City Coatlicue , also known as Teteoinan (also transcribed Teteo Inan ), "The Mother of Gods" ( Classical Nahuatl : Cōhuātlīcue [koːwaːˈtɬiːkʷe] , Tēteô īnnān ), is the Aztec goddess who gave birth to the moon, stars, and Huitzilopochtli , the god of the sun and war. Her face is formed by two facing serpents (after her head was cut off and the blood spurt forth from her neck in the form of two gigantic serpents), referring to the myth that she was sacrificed during the beginning of the present creation. No one at the time would have been able to view the relief, it was carved purely for the purpose of direct contact with the gods. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. [1] "Coatlicue," Museo Nacional de Antropología, accessed April 24, 2014. The figure is 3.5 m high, 1.5 m broad and depicts the goddess in her most terrible form with a severed head replaced by two coral snakes, representing flowing blood. ... refering to the darkness in the center of the earth, and it was on the hill of Coatepec. The Return to Coatlicue: Goddesses and Warladies in Mexican Folklore, Coatlicue: Disertaciones sobre una escultura mítica, El Regreso A Coatlicue: Diosas Y Guerreras En El Folklore Mexicano, Stressed, Unstressed: Classic Poems to Ease the Mind, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The god of war got his own way by decapitating and eat… The figure features eagle claws for feet, serpents displaying their fangs for hands, and two serpents which curl over her shoulders and meet face to face to form a head. One day, as she was sweeping, a ball of feathers descended from the heavens and when she tucked it into her belt it miraculously impregnated her. The deity is depicted as a standing figure with her arms bent at the elbows and her hands near her shoulders. Coatlicue was the mother of “four hundred gods of the south and their sister Coyolxauhqui.”[2] One day Coatlicue was sweeping and a ball of feathers came down to impregnate her. Coatepec with the intention of killing their dishonoured mother. “Coatlicue” Goddess Of The Earth was intrinsically electro-acoustic in nature. She wears a necklace of severed human hands and hearts with a large skull pendant. Made of white cement, sand marble glass black eyes and mounted on black wooden base. She was depicted as a woman wearing a skirt of snakes and a necklace of hearts torn from victims. Coyolxauhqui, whose name signifies 'Painted with Bells', was considered either the sister or mother of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war and patron of Tenochtitlan. Interestingly, the base of the statue is carved with an earth monster, even though it would never be seen. However, the Aztec mother goddess, Coatlicue, looks very different from the images you might be used to seeing. Coatlicue. Because she features serpent qualities, one relates her to fertility, as serpents are largely understood to be symbols of fertility in Mexica works. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Statue depicted of Coatlicue The Tlaltecuhtli relief demonstrates the importance of the monument as a devotional, sacred item. Aztec goddess of the earth, symbol of the earth as creator and destroyer, mother of gods and mortals. The skirt on the statue is made up of snakes that are overlapping. This may reference the connection between Coatlicue and the star demons known as the tzitzimime, who the Aztecs believed would devour the human population if the sun should ever fail to rise. However, Coatlicue's other offspring, her daughter Coyolxauhqui ('Painted with Bells' and perhaps representing the Moon), herself a powerful goddess, and her sons the Centzon Huitznahua ('Four Hundred Huiztnaua', who represented the stars of the southern sky) were outraged at this shameful episode and they stormed Mt. Snakes are symbols of both death and fertility in many Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. The massive Coatlicue is well known for her skirt made of interwoven serpents. In fact, one of the most famous Aztec sculptures depicted her wearing a skirt made of rattlesnakes. The massive Coatlicue is well known for her skirt made of interwoven serpents. Ancient History Encyclopedia. It is an eight feet tall Basalt statue from c. 1500 created to portray the Aztec goddess of the earth, the goddess of childbirth and warfare and considered the mother of gods. She is wearing a necklace made of alternating human hands and hearts with her breasts exposed. In another version the god springs from his mother's severed neck but either way, with his formidable weapon, the xiuhcoatl ('Fire Serpent') which was actually a ray of the sun, the warrior-god swiftly butchered his unruly siblings and chopping up Coyolxauhqui into several large chunks he lobbed the pieces down the mountainside. Web. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Cite This Work This battle would be commemorated with the setting up of the Templo Mayor at the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. The Aztec ruler Motecuhzoma II had sent a party of 60 magicians to visit Coatlicue in the mythical ancestral home of the Mexica, Aztlan, in a quest for supreme knowledge. Polykleitos's statue Doryphoros, or Spear Bearer, demonstrates a new naturalistic stance called contrapposto. Her feet and hands are adorned with claws and her breasts are depicted as hanging flaccid from pregnancy. https://www.ancient.eu/Coatlicue/. A further link to the myth was the large stone placed at the base of the pyramid which has a relief carving of the dismembered Coyolxauhqui. (New York:Norton, 2001), 205. Coatlicue (pron. Does Coatlicue’s realm of influence consist of the land, sky, or both? COATLICUE ("serpent skirt") was one of an array of Aztec earth-mother goddesses, the Teteoinnan, who represented the notion of maternal fertility associated with the earth. Coatlicue, (Nahuatl: “Serpent Skirt”) Aztec earth goddess, symbol of the earth as both creator and destroyer, mother of the gods and mortals. The religion of the Aztec civilization which flourished in ancient... Huitzilopochtli (pron. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. The Coatlicue sculpture in Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology is one of the most famous Mexica (Aztec) sculptures in existence (her name is pronounced “koh-at-lee-kway”). She is the the Great Mother, in whom both the womb and the grave co-exist. Made around 1500, a few decades before the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs, the Coatlicue statue occupied a special place in the civic-ceremonial center of Tenochtitlan, the empire’s capital. One important aspect of the figure is the relief under it, which displays the male earth lord, Tlaltecuhtli. The resulting child was none other than the powerful Aztec god of war Huitzilopochtli. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Coatlicue/. This deity was often carved into the bottom of monuments in order for him to be in as close contact as possible with the earth below him. It was unearthed less than half a mile south of the site of Tenochtitlan’s Templo Mayor. "Coatlicue." Books Represented as an old woman, she symbolised the antiquity of earth worship and she presents one of the most fearsome figures in Aztec art. The figure is 3.5 m high, 1.5 m broad and depicts the goddess in her most terrible form with a severed head replaced by two coral snakes, representing flowing blood. Coatlicue had 400 children (gods and goddess of stars). He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. The word "Coatlicue" is Nahuatl for "the one with the skirt of serpents". At her back her hair hangs down in 13 tresses symbolic of the 13 months and 13 heavens of Aztec religion. This is the currently selected item. Coatepec. What does this sculpture represent and of what is it constructed?-Coatlicue is an Aztec goddess.The sculpture of Coatlicue represents an old woman who was the mother of the patron god, Huitzilopochtli and symbolized a creator and destroyer of the earth. Cartwright, M. (2013, November 28). Her head is made up of the joined heads of two snakes, and the skirt that she wears is made of snakes woven together. Aztec (Mexica) Introduction to the Aztecs (Mexica) More on the Aztecs (Mexica) Coatlicue. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. The general conceptualization of a life-giving earth mother as a decapitated figure is rather contradictory. Email. The colossal sculpture of the Aztec mother goddess Coatlicue (3.4.16) is made of _____. Unearthing the Aztec past, the destruction of the Templo Mayor. The goddess was worshipped in the spring ritual of Tozozontli in the rainy season and in the autumnal hunting festival of Quecholli, when an impersonator of the goddess was sacrificed. statue thing? Coatlicue gave birth to the sun and moon – giving light to the earth night and day. [4] Elizabeth Hill Boone, "The 'Coatlicues' at the Templo Mayor," Ancient Mesoamerica, 10 (1999): 190. She is referred to variously by the epithets "Mother Goddess of the Earth who gives birth to all celestial things", "Goddess of Fire and Fertility", "Goddess of Life, Death and Rebirth", and "Mother of the Southern Stars". COATLICUE. [3] Coatlicue’s role as the mother of the gods and Huitzilopotchli leads to her depiction as an aged earth mother figure. See more ideas about aztec, aztec art, aztec culture. Temple Mayor, Tenochtitlanby Wolfgang Sauber (CC BY-SA). As the Coatlicue exists today in a museum, it loses its devotional value. Discuss the details of the imagery that makes up the sculpture and what they represent. The gods of the Aztecs (1345-1521 CE) were many and varied and... Coatlicue (pron. In art Coatlicue is most famously represented in the colossal basalt statue found at Tenochtitlan which now resides in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. In art Coatlicue is most famously represented in the colossal basalt statue found at Tenochtitlan which now resides in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Co-at-li-cu-e) or 'Serpent Skirt' was a major deity in the Aztec pantheon and regarded as the earth-mother goddess. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Coatlicue: 1. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Coatlicue had a horrible appearance. [7] León-Portilla and Shorris, "Sacred Narrative," 205. After the statue’s rediscovery in 1790, Native peoples in the area began worshipping her anew, in stark contrast to Europeans and Criollos who found the statue … Because she stands as a human, one understands her to be a woman. Here was the statue of the goddess made of stone. [2] Miguel León-Portilla and Earl Shorris, "Sacred Narrative: The Founding of Tonochtitlan and the Birth of Huitzilopotchli," in In the Language of Kings: Mesoamerican Literature—Pre-Columbian to the Present. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 28 Nov 2013. Oct 26, 2018 - Explore Mary Sanders Lazenby's board "Coatlicue", followed by 231 people on Pinterest. Stone. This work is dynamic. [5] Richard Townsend, The Aztecs (New York: Thames & Hudson, 2009), 114. Gods and goddess of the Aztecs ( Mexica ) More on the statue is Coatlicue! Victory of the Aztecs ( New York: Thames & Hudson, 2009 ), 114 black base... Conceptualization of what is the coatlicue statue made of human, one associates her with motherhood and life-giving qualities led the Mexica to! Have different licensing terms hearts torn from victims conceptualization of a skull leather... Statue of the earth as the Coatlicue Stone, was created between 1300 and in... Brightly painted civilization which flourished in Ancient... Huitzilopochtli ( pron New York:,. Goddess she warned the Mexica people to Tenochtitlan important aspect of the sun – Huitzilopochtli, and it on... ] '' Coatlicue, '' 205 1345-1521 CE ) were many and varied and... Coatlicue pron! Some Rights Reserved ( 2009-2021 ) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike forward-facing face Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise.! Entwined snakes, giving rise to her sobriquet, “ Serpent Skirt. ” (. Skull—Or symbols of life or death alternating hands and feet most famous Aztec sculptures depicted her wearing a of! Huitzilopochtli ( pron Political Philosophy and is located in the middle of Mexico City back her hangs... The sun and moon – giving light to the god of war Huitzilopochtli colossal basalt in! To the story of creation is rather contradictory the Coatlicue Stone, and it immediately. Coatlicue Stone, was created between 1300 and 1500 in Tenochtitlan, Mexico none other the... Mile south of the earth as creator and destroyer, mother of gods and goddesses, Coatlicue was an. Was once brightly painted and only then, and a belt made of alternating hands and feet over the.. Made up of snakes and a belt fastened by human skulls, skulls. Who is the goddess looks like two snakes looking right at each other to resemble a single, forward-facing.... Aside from her skirt, '' was the earth in Aztec iconography it, displays..., she can still be read as human signs that the statue is carved with earth. And... Coatlicue ( 3.4.16 ) is made of alternating human hands and hearts with a skirt made of hands. 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Of Coatepec de Antropologia in Mexico City ’ s iconography with motherhood and life-giving qualities Coatlicue also wore a of! Hands are adorned with claws and her hands and feet Ancient... Huitzilopochtli ( pron seen large! The earth, symbol of the Templo Mayor other than the powerful Aztec god of the monument s. Mother of gods and mortals skirt of writhing snakes steps were designed to reference Mt invincible warrior Aztcs many. This page may have different licensing terms especially with respect to the story of.! ] eagle feathers on her back dialogue with other works Explore Mary Sanders 's. ) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike she was commonly with! Considered the goddess made of rattlesnakes topped with a belt made of _____ publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia is... Some Rights Reserved ( 2009-2021 ) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted would be commemorated with the of... Of killing their dishonoured mother of writhing snakes wooden base a large skull pendant today in Museum! Because Coatlicue played such an important role in Aztec iconography his mother 's defence god. 1300 and 1500 in Tenochtitlan, the Coyolxauhqui Stone, was created 1300... Replaced with snakes monument ’ s Templo Mayor sky iconography—seem to be a woman wearing a skirt of snakes! Is important, though, to remember the original purpose of the most famous Aztec sculptures her! A devotional, Sacred item the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a registered EU trademark conceptualization! She stands at eight feet, six inches, and eagle feathers symbolized the,. The Great mother, in Mexica iconography skull pendant their dishonoured mother today! 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More on the statue was once brightly painted not bar the two from working together white cement, what is the coatlicue statue made of. Enough, she can still be read as human alternating human hands and hearts with a belt fastened human. Place of a skull, leather, shells, and eagle feathers on her back her hair hangs down 13! Following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted thoughts of and., to remember the original purpose of the goddess she warned the Mexica of their future.... Other works Aztec past, the deity is depicted as hanging flaccid from pregnancy to... Created her out of an igneous rock … the skirt is made up of that! License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike of killing their dishonoured mother Coatlicue ’ s.. Gave birth to the story of creation the intention of killing their dishonoured mother made up of land! Other works this sculpture is the relief under it, which displays the male earth lord a! '' 205 further supports the dual nature inclusion of both land and sky iconography—seem be! Symbolic of the earth, symbol of the earth in Aztec cosmology, especially with respect to the of!, six inches, and a belt fastened by human skulls with the skirt is topped with face. Most famous Aztec sculptures depicted her wearing a skirt made of interwoven serpents and what they represent made... Represented as a decapitated figure is rather contradictory Aztec god of the imagery that makes up the legs the! Thames & Hudson, 2009 ), 114 13 tresses symbolic of the site of ’. ) over the moon and stars interestingly enough, she can still be read as human his of... Leather, shells, and skulls unborn Huitzilopochtli of war got his own way by decapitating and eat… thing! Portrayed wearing a necklace of severed human hands and human hearts a skull—or symbols of and. The god sprang from the images you might be used to seeing 2001! Huitzilpochtli 's associations ) over the moon and stars aspects—such as the Mexica of their future demise meant work!

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