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Aztec Copal Burner (Mictlantecuhtli God of Death)

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Aztec Copal Burner (Mictlantecuhtli God of Death)

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Aztec Copal Burner (Mictlantecuhtli God of Death)

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$ 85.00

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Mictlantecuhtli God of Death

In Aztec mythology, Mictlantecuhtli was the king of Mictlan, the lowest and northernmost section of the underworld and also the god of the dead. Mictlantecuhtli, means "Lord of Mictlan" in the native Nahuatl.

Mictlantecuhtli was one of the principal gods of the Aztecs.

The worship of Mictlantecuhtli sometimes involved ritual cannibalism, with human flesh being consumed.

Archaeologists found two life-size clay statues of Mictlantecuhtli to the north of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan.

The Aztecs considered skeletons as symbols of fertility, health and abundance. Their reasoning was the close symbolic links between death and life in the current fifth sun they inhabited.

The Aztec god of the dead was frequently depicted with raised arms in an aggressive gesture, showing that he was ready to tear apart the dead as they entered his presence. He was often depicted wearing sandals as a symbol of the high rank as Lord of Mictlan. In Aztec codices Mictlantecuhtli is often depicted with his skeletal jaw open to receive the stars that descend into him during the daytime.

Ruler of the Underworld

In Aztec mythology, the twin gods, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca created the current world or “fifth sun”. In this epoch, Mictlantecuhtli and his wife inherited the underworld as their domain and ruled over all the dead.

According to Aztec legend, the god Quetzalcoatl was sent by the other gods to steal the bones of the previous generation of gods from Mictlantecuhtli. The god of the underworld sought to block Quetzalcoatl's escape with the bones and, although he failed, he forced Quetzalcoatl to drop the bones, which were scattered and broken by the fall. The shattered bones were collected by Quetzalcoatl and carried back to the land of the living, where the gods transformed them into the various races of mortals.

When a person died, they were buried with grave goods, which they carried with them on the long and dangerous journey to the underworld. Upon arrival in Mictlan the goods were offered to Mictlantecuhtli and his wife as tribute and as a bribe in exchange for a peaceful passage.

Product Description

Museum Quality. Unique piece, only 1 available. Aztec Copal Burner (Mictlantecuhtli God of Death). Hand made in Mexico by decendants of the Aztec Empire from fired clay. 6" tall x 5.5" wide, weight = 2.5 lbs. This is an intricate hand made object, slight imperfections exist.

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