Tláloc facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tláloc |
|
|---|---|
| God of Rain, Thunder and Lightning | |
Tláloc as depicted in the Codex Magliabechiano
|
|
| Other names | Nonohualco, Tláloctlamacazqui, Tláloccantecutli |
| Abode | • Tlálocan • Ilhuicatl-Meztli (1st Heaven) • Chalchiuhtlicueyecatl (Gulf of Mexico) |
| Gender | Male |
| Region | Mesoamerica |
| Ethnic group | Aztec (Nahua) |
| Festivals | Etzalcualiztli and Huey Tozoztli |
| Personal information | |
| Consort | Xochiquetzal (1st) and Chalchiuhtlicue (2nd) |
| Children | • With Chalchiuhtlicue: the Tlaloque (Nappatecuhtli, Tomiyauhtecuhtli, Opochtli, Yauhtli) and Huixtocihuatl |
| Parents | Created by the Tezcatlipocas (Codex Zumarraga) |
| Siblings | None |
| Equivalents | |
| Mixtec equivalent | Ñuhu-Dzahui |
| Zapotec equivalent | Pitao-Cocijo |
_wikipedia.svg)
Tláloc (Classical Nahuatl: Tláloc) is the god of rain, thunder, and lightning in Aztec religion. He was one of the most important deities for the Aztec people because he controlled the water needed for crops to grow. The Aztecs believed he could send life-giving rain, but also storms, hail, and lightning.
He is one of the oldest gods worshipped in ancient Mexico. Tláloc was believed to live in caves, springs, and on mountain peaks, especially on the sacred mountain known as Cerro Tláloc.
Contents
Appearance and symbols
In Aztec art, Tláloc is easy to recognize. He is usually shown with "goggle" eyes (large rings around his eyes) and long fangs. His lips often have a shape that looks like a mustache. He is frequently depicted holding lightning or a water jar.
Tláloc is associated with several symbols:
- Animals: Jaguars, serpents, and butterflies.
- Plants: Maize (corn) and the Mexican marigold.
- Colors: Blue and green, representing water and nature.
He was often shown wearing a mask and a headdress made of heron feathers. Because he was the god of rain, he was very important for agriculture.
History and origins
Worship of a storm god like Tláloc began long before the Aztec Empire. Similar gods were worshipped in the ancient city of Teotihuacan and by the Maya civilization, who called their rain god Chaac.
Archaeologists have found shrines dedicated to Tláloc that are hundreds of years old. The Aztecs likely adopted this god from earlier cultures because rain was essential for their survival in the Valley of Mexico.
Myths and beliefs
The Four Tlálocs
In Aztec mythology, Tláloc was not just one figure. The Aztecs believed in the "four Tlálocs" (Classical Nahuatl: Tlālōquê) who stood at the four corners of the universe to hold up the sky.
According to legend, Tláloc had four great jars of water. Each jar contained a different type of rain:
- One jar brought good rain that helped crops grow.
- Another brought rain that caused fungus or rot.
- The third brought freezing rain or hail.
- The fourth brought rain that was destructive.
This belief helped the Aztecs explain why weather could sometimes be helpful and sometimes harmful to their farms.
Tlálocan: The Paradise
The Aztecs believed in different places for the afterlife. Tláloc ruled over a place called Tlalocan. This was described as a paradise of unending springtime, filled with green plants and plenty of food.
People who died from causes related to water—such as lightning strikes, drowning, or certain diseases—were believed to go to Tlálocan instead of the gloomy underworld.
Worship and festivals
The Aztecs held many ceremonies to honor Tláloc and ask for rain.
The Great Temple
In the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City), the Great Temple was a huge pyramid with two shrines on top. One shrine was for the war god Huitzilopochtli, and the other was for Tláloc. The side dedicated to Tláloc was painted blue and white to represent water.
Inside the shrine, priests kept offerings like shells, jade, and sand. They performed rituals here to ensure the rain would come at the right time for planting.
Mount Tláloc
The most important natural site for Tláloc was Cerro Tláloc, a high mountain east of the city. At the top of this mountain, there was a large stone shrine.
During the festival of Huey Tozoztli, Aztec rulers and priests would climb the mountain to leave offerings. Archaeological evidence shows that people left pottery, food, and precious stones. Historical records indicate that the Aztecs also performed sacrifices at these sites to please the god, believing that these serious rituals were necessary to prevent drought and starvation.
Festivals
Several months in the Aztec calendar were dedicated to Tláloc.
- Atlcahualo: Celebrated in February and March, this festival asked for the early rains.
- Etzalcualiztli: Celebrated in June, this festival thanked the god for the arrival of the rainy season. People would eat a special dish made of maize and beans.
- Atemoztli: Held in December, this festival involved making statues of the god out of amaranth dough. These dough figures were treated with respect and then eaten as part of a ceremonial banquet.
Legacy in Mexico
Even after the Spanish arrived in Mexico in the 16th century, Tláloc remained an important figure. Aspects of his worship were sometimes blended with Christian traditions.
Today, Tláloc is a well-known symbol of Mexican heritage. A famous, massive stone statue of Tláloc (or possibly his sister/wife Chalchiuhtlicue) was found in the town of Coatlinchan. In 1964, it was moved to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. The statue weighs 168 tons. When it was moved into the city, a heavy rainstorm occurred, which many people believed was a sign from the rain god.
Other representations
Tláloc appears in the art of many cultures in Mesoamerica.
- Teotihuacan: He is often shown with jaguar features, linking thunder to the roar of a jaguar.
- Maya: The Maya rain god Chaac shares many similarities with Tláloc, and images of Tláloc have been found at Maya sites like Chichen Itza.
- Mixtec and Zapotec: These cultures in southern Mexico worshipped similar rain gods named Ñuhu-Dzahui and Cocijo.
See also
In Spanish: Tláloc para niños
- Aztec mythology
- Chaac (Maya rain god)
- Cocijo (Zapotec rain god)
- Cerro Tláloc
- Tenochtitlan
