InAztec mythology,Huēhuehcoyōtl([weːweʔˈkojoːt͡ɬ]) (fromhuēhueh[ˈweːweʔ]"very old" (literally, "old old" ) andcoyōtl[ˈkojoːt͡ɬ]"coyote" inNahuatl) is theauspiciousPre-Columbiangod of music, dance, mischief, and song. He is the patron of uninhibited sexuality and rules over the day sign in the Aztec calendar namedcuetzpallin(lizard) and the fourthtrecenaXochitl ( "flower" in Nahuatl).[2][3]
| Huehuecoyotl | |
|---|---|
God of the arts, lord of music and ceremonial dance, guide of adulthood and adolescence | |
| Member of theNauhtzonteteo | |
 Huehuecoyotl as depicted in the Codex Borgia[1] | |
| Other names | Ueuecoyotl |
| Abode | Tlalticpac |
| Gender | Male |
| Region | Mesoamerica |
| Ethnic group | Aztec(Nahoa) |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Omecihuatl(Emerged by Tecpatl) |
| Siblings | theNauhtzonteteo(1,600 gods) |
| Consort | None |
| Children | None |
History
editStories derived from theCodex Telleriano-Remensischaracterized Huehuecóyotl as a benign prankster, whose tricks were often played on other gods or even humans, but tended to backfire and cause more trouble for himself than for the intended victims. A great party-giver, he also was alleged to create wars among humans to relieve his boredom. He was a part of theTezcatlipoca(Smoky Mirror) family of theMexicagods and inherited theirshapeshiftingpowers.
Those who had indications of evil fates from other gods would sometimes appeal to Huehuecóyotl to mitigate or reverse their fates. Huehuecóyotl shares many characteristics with thetricksterCoyoteof the North American tribes, including storytelling and choral singing.[4]
Like all Aztec deities, Huehuecóyotl wasdualisticin his exercise of good and evil and was perceived as abalancedgod. Depictions of his dark side include a coyote appearance (non-human) with black or yellowfeathers,as opposed to the customary green feathers.
He is also the god of deception.[2]
About
edit
Huehuecóyotl (or Ueuecoyotl) is a Mexican mythology deity. He is depicted in theCodex Borbonicusas a dancingcoyotewith human hands and feet, accompanied by a human drummer. The name "very old coyote" conveyed positive meanings to theAztecs;coyotes were a symbol of astuteness, worldly wisdom, pragmatism, male beauty, and youthfulness. The prefix "huehue", which inNahuatlmeans "very old", was attached to gods inAztec mythologythat were revered for their old age, wisdom, philosophical insights, and connections to thedivine.Although Huehuecóyotl often appears in stories as male, he can change gender much like many of the offspring ofTezcatlipocacan. He also can be associated with indulgence,male sexuality,good luck and story-telling. One of his prominent female lovers wasTemazcalteci(also Temaxcaltechi), the goddess of bathing and sweat baths (temazcalli), also known asMexican sauna.Another wasXochiquetzal,the goddess of love, beauty, female sexuality, prostitutes, flowers, and young mothers.
In most depictions of Huehuecóyotl, he is followed by a human drummer or groups of humans that appear to be friendly to him (as opposed to worshipping), which is exceptional inMesoamericanculture.
The fourth day of the twenty-day calendar cycle belonged to Huehuecóyotl.
References
edit- ^Bodo Spranz(1975). Fondo de Cultura Económica México (ed.).Los Dioses en los Códices Mexicanos del Grupo Borgia: Una Investigación Iconográfica(in Spanish).María Martínez Peñaloza(translator). México.ISBN968-16-1029-6.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ab"Article".Aztec Calendar.
- ^"Huehuecóyotl, the Erotic God Worshipped by Mexican Antiquities".The Yucatan Times.12 July 2020.Retrieved20 July2020.
- ^"HUEHUECOYOTL".GodChecker.
External links
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Media related toHuehuecoyotlat Wikimedia Commons- Karl Young, The Continuum of Life in Codex Borbonicus
