Xochiquetzal

Xochiquétzal described in the Rios Codex.

Xochiquétzal and Quetzalcóatl described in the Nuttall Codex.

Xochiquétzal or Xochiquetzalli (from Nahuatl: Xochiketsalli 'xochitl , flower; ketsalli, beautiful or precious'), also called Ichpochtli (from Nahuatl: Ichpochtli 'chica', 'jovencita' or 'muchacha'), in Mexica mythology she is the goddess of beauty, flowers, love, amorous pleasure, and the arts. She is one of the two goddesses related to the fertility of nature and beauty, perhaps for this reason she is represented as the mother of Cintéotl or Centéotl. Xochiquétzal, "precious flower", was born from the hair of the mother goddess.

The cempasúchil flowers are consecrated to her. Xochiquétzal used to be invoked to obtain beauty, sensuality, to be able to survive in case of danger, to do handicrafts, achieve fertility, childbirth, good harvest, dance, music, singing, recovery after a disaster, herbal medicine, sexual freedom, to talk about affection, achieve a good tissue, sexual pleasure, eroticism, and achieve stable marriages.

Feathers, daisies and small tiles with her image were the best offering for Xochiquétzal. She is Xochipilli's twin sister. Her first husband was Tlaloc, although she was also married to Ixotecuhtli, the god of freedom, to Piltzintecuhtli and to Centéotl. Xochiquétzal was also Tezcatlipoca's lover.

Myth

In the creation myths it is mentioned that she was the wife of Piltzintecuthli, son of the first couple of men: Cipactónal and Oxomoco. With Piltzintecuhtli he had a son, Cintéotl, god of corn, and in other myths it is said that they also engendered Nanahuatzin, who would sacrifice himself in the divine fire to become the Fifth Sun, and Xochipilli, god of flowers and also known as god of love. She had several consorts and lovers.

First he lived in Tamoanchan, “hill of the serpent”, one of the paradises located in the first heaven, the Tlalocan, which was located at the top of Cerro de la Malinche. This dwelling was a region full of delights and pleasant pastimes where there were springs, rivers, forests, and places of recreation. In this place there was a flowering tree, and whoever managed to pick one of its flowers or was touched by one of them would be happy and faithful in love. Xochiquétzal was attended by other goddesses and she was accompanied and guarded by many people, in such a way that no man could see her. Those who took care of her were dwarves, hunchbacks, clowns and jesters, who entertained her with music and dances, and who also performed the office of ambassadors when she sent messages to the gods that she cared for her.

She lives in the ninth heaven, the region of the obsidian wind itzehecayan and is a dual goddess, meaning both solar and lunar. Her lunar character is seen in the Borgia codex, where she is once equated with Tlazolteotl. It is mentioned that he spent part of his time in the Valley of Huejucar, a prodigious place where he helped the weavers create a gift sent by the gods to the world through them, his solar character is seen in his representation as a butterfly and his clothing the < i>yacapapálotl or teocuitlayacapapálotl.

Representation

Xochiquetzalli is a metaphor of the young woman who gives sexual pleasure to the young and who represents the temptation that makes chaste men fall; she is naturally a beautiful, cheerful young woman. She represents youthful, spontaneous, but above all free encounters, which were not sanctioned between men.

He can be considered the very embodiment of femininity, mainly of young femininity and is therefore the protective numen of carnal treatment. Xochiquetzalli was the protector and inspiration of artists, weavers, welders, goldsmiths and painters, prostitutes (called ahuianimeh) and the lawyer for pregnant women. She is also the patroness of housework.

Most of the Nahua texts that speak of the mother goddess present her to us as an ancient goddess; Tonantzin "the old lady" Ilamatecuhtli, however, there is a young version of the mother goddess.

Myths where it appears

• The myth of Yappan
• The origin of flowers
• The Legend of the Deshilado, Valle de Huejucar