Xōchiquetzal

 ( Aztec Goddesses ) 

In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal ( ), is the goddess of beauty, fertility, arts, and love, serving as a protector of young mothers and a patroness of pregnancy, childbirth, and the crafts practiced by women such as weaving and embroidery.

---

Name The name Xōchiquetzal is a compound of (“flower”) and (“precious feather; quetzal tail feather”). In Classical Nahuatl morphology, the first element in a compound modifies the second and thus the goddess' name can literally be taken to mean “flower precious feather” or ”flower quetzal feather”.

---

Description Xochiquetzal is always depicted as an alluring and youthful woman, beautiful, richly attired and symbolically associated with vegetation and in particular flowers.

Ichpochtli , meaning "maiden, young woman"), Nahuatl Dictionary. (1997). Wired Humanities Project. University of Oregon. Retrieved September 1, 2012, from link Ichpōchtli, corresponds to a descriptive usage of (“maiden, young woman”)

Worshipers wore animal and flower masks at a festival, held in her honor every eight years. Her husband was Tlaloc until Tezcatlipoca seduced her and married her himself.

In pre-Hispanic Maya culture, a similar figure is Goddess I.

Anthropologist Hugo Nutini identifies her with the Virgin of Ocotlan in his article on patron saints in Tlaxcala.Nutini (1976), passim.

---

Worship A young virgin woman beautiful and perfect was chosen to be ixiptlatli of Xochiquetzal which impersonated the goddess and would later be ritualistically sacrificed to Xochiquetzal at the end of the year, during the end of Toxcatl the time of Tezcatlipoca she would accompany the Ixiptla of Tezcatlipoca.

The worship of Xochiquetzal partook in fasting, engaging in the arts, rituals, and various festivals throughout the year including that of Hueypachtli. During this festival Xochiquetzal was honored and also offered a variety of gifts consisting of offerings of flowers, drinks, and food.

---

See also

• Ahuiateteo
• Ahwahnee
• Xochicuicatl cuecuechtli
• Xochipilli

---

Notes

• Bierhorst, John (1985). 9780804711838, Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804711838
• Clendinnen, Inga (1991). 9780521400930, Cambridge University Press. . ISBN 9780521400930
• Miller, Mary (1993). 9780500050682, Thames & Hudson. . ISBN 9780500050682
• Smith, Michael E. (2025). 9780631230151, Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 9780631230151

---

External links

• Description of the deity on Azteccalendar.com

Categories: Aztec Goddesses, Beauty Goddesses, Childhood Goddesses, Handicraft Deities, Fertility Goddesses, Love And Lust Goddesses, Nature Goddesses, Textiles In Folklore

Post Comment