Huehuecoyotl
Encyclopedia
In Aztec mythology
, Huehuecóyotl (nahuatl
"Very old coyote") is the auspicious god of music, dance and song of ancient Mexico
. He is depicted in the Codex Borbonicus
as a dancing coyote
with human hands and feet, accompanied by a human drummer. The name "Very old coyote
" conveyed positive meanings for the Aztec
populace; coyotes were an Aztec
symbol of astuteness and worldly-wisdom, pragmatism
and male beauty and youthfulness. The prefix "huehue" which in Nahuatl
means "very old" was attached to gods in Aztec mythology
that were revered for their old age, wisdom, philosophical insights and connections to the divine. Although often appearing in stories as male, Huehuecóyotl can be gender changing, as many of the offspring of Tezcatlipoca
. He can be associated with indulgence, male sexuality, good luck and story-telling. One of his prominent female lovers was Temazcalteci
(also Temaxcaltechi), the goddess of bathing and sweatbaths (temazcalli
), also known as Mexican sauna
and Xochiquetzal
, the goddess of love, beauty, female sexuality, prostitutes, flowers and young mothers. His male lovers included Opochtli
, the left-handed god of trapping, hunting and fishing and Xochipilli
, the god of art and games and the patron of homosexuals
and male prostitutes
of Mesoamerica
.
As all Aztec deities, Huehuecóyotl was dualistic
in his exercise of good and evil. He was perceived as a balanced
god; depictions of his dark side include a coyote appearance (non-human) with black or yellow feathers, as opposed to the customary green feathers.
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 in Mesoamerican
culture. In the minds of the Aztec
, the close relationship between Huehuecóyotl and humans created a favoritism towards his worship
due to the practical as well as spiritual benefits perceived by the ancient Mexicans, who saw other gods either as too far away from them or too lowly; therefore Huehuecóyotl was associated with balance of the old (huehue) and the new (coyotl), the worldy and the spiritual, the male and the female, as well as youth and old age, in modest parallel with the Mayan
Hunab Ku
or the Chinese Ying-yang symbol.
Stories derived from the Codex Telleriano-Remensis
make him a benign prankster, whose tricks are often played on other gods or even humans but tended to backfire and cause more trouble for himself than the intended victims. A great party-giver, he also was alleged to foment wars between humans to relieve his boredom. He is a part of the Tezcatlipoca
(Smoky Mirror) family of the Mexica
gods, and has their shapeshifting
powers.
Those who had indications of evil fates from other gods would sometimes appeal to Huehuecóyotl to mitigate or reverse their fate.
Huehuecóyotl shares many characteristics with the trickster Coyote
of the North American tribes, including storytelling and choral singing.
The fourth day of the thirteen day Mexican week belonged to Huehuecóyotl.
He was the only friend to Xolotl
who is the god of twins, sickness and deformity and accompanies the dead to Mictlan
(the underworld of Aztec mythology
). Their association is born from the canine
nature of both gods.
Aztec mythology
The aztec civilization recognized a polytheistic mythology, which contained the many deities and supernatural creatures from their religious beliefs. "orlando"- History :...
, Huehuecóyotl (nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
"Very old coyote") is the auspicious god of music, dance and song of ancient Mexico
Ancient Mexico
Ancient Mexico was an exhibition by William Bullock of casts of Aztec artifacts and both copies and originals of Aztec codices, held in 1824 in the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London...
. He is depicted in the Codex Borbonicus
Codex Borbonicus
The Codex Borbonicus is an Aztec codex written by Aztec priests shortly before or after the Spanish conquest of Mexico. The codex is named after the Palais Bourbon in France. It is held at the Bibliothèque de l'Assemblée Nationale in Paris...
as a dancing coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
with human hands and feet, accompanied by a human drummer. The name "Very old coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
" conveyed positive meanings for the Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
populace; coyotes were an Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
symbol of astuteness and worldly-wisdom, pragmatism
Pragmatism
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition centered on the linking of practice and theory. It describes a process where theory is extracted from practice, and applied back to practice to form what is called intelligent practice...
and male beauty and youthfulness. The prefix "huehue" which in Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
means "very old" was attached to gods in Aztec mythology
Aztec mythology
The aztec civilization recognized a polytheistic mythology, which contained the many deities and supernatural creatures from their religious beliefs. "orlando"- History :...
that were revered for their old age, wisdom, philosophical insights and connections to the divine. Although often appearing in stories as male, Huehuecóyotl can be gender changing, as many of the offspring of Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca was a central deity in Aztec religion. One of the four sons of Ometeotl, he is associated with a wide range of concepts, including the night sky, the night winds, hurricanes, the north, the earth, obsidian, enmity, discord, rulership, divination, temptation, jaguars, sorcery, beauty,...
. He can be associated with indulgence, male sexuality, good luck and story-telling. One of his prominent female lovers was Temazcalteci
Temazcalteci
In the Aztec mythology, Temazcalteci was the goddess of steam baths. According to Sahagún, this goddess was the goddess of medicine, Toci, she was venerated by doctors. She was also worshipped by those who had temazcals in their houses....
(also Temaxcaltechi), the goddess of bathing and sweatbaths (temazcalli
Temazcal
A temazcal is a type of sweat lodge which originated with pre-Hispanic Indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica. The word temazcal comes from the Nahuatl word temazcalli , or possibly from the Aztec teme and calli . Temazcal in English is also written as temezcal, temascal, or temescal...
), also known as Mexican sauna
Temazcal
A temazcal is a type of sweat lodge which originated with pre-Hispanic Indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica. The word temazcal comes from the Nahuatl word temazcalli , or possibly from the Aztec teme and calli . Temazcal in English is also written as temezcal, temascal, or temescal...
and Xochiquetzal
Xochiquetzal
In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal was a goddess associated with concepts of fertility, beauty, and female sexual power, serving as a protector of young mothers and a patroness of pregnancy, childbirth, and the crafts practised by women such as weaving and embroidery...
, the goddess of love, beauty, female sexuality, prostitutes, flowers and young mothers. His male lovers included Opochtli
Opochtli
In Aztec mythology, Opochtli was a god of hunting and fishing....
, the left-handed god of trapping, hunting and fishing and Xochipilli
Xochipilli
thumb|300px|right| Image of Xochipilli.Xochipilli was the god of art, games, beauty, dance, flowers, and song in Aztec mythology. His name contains the Nahuatl words xochitl and pilli , and hence means "flower prince"...
, the god of art and games and the patron of homosexuals
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and male prostitutes
Male prostitution in the arts
The male prostitute or hustler is a frequent stereotype in literature and movies in the West from the 1960s on, and especially in movies and books with a gay perspective in which he may be considered a stock character...
of Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
.
As all Aztec deities, Huehuecóyotl was dualistic
Dualist pantheism
Dualist Pantheism holds that there are two major types of substance, physical and mental/spiritual. Dualistic pantheism is very diverse, and may include beliefs in reincarnation, cosmic consciousness, and paranormal connections across Nature...
in his exercise of good and evil. He was perceived as a balanced
Balance
- Equipment :* Balance beam, a piece of gymnastics apparatus.* Balance board, a piece of training equipment.* Balancing machine, a machine that balances mechanical rotating parts to lessen vibration.* Balance wheel, a watch component....
god; depictions of his dark side include a coyote appearance (non-human) with black or yellow feathers, as opposed to the customary green feathers.
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 in Mesoamerican
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
culture. In the minds of the Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
, the close relationship between Huehuecóyotl and humans created a favoritism towards his worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
due to the practical as well as spiritual benefits perceived by the ancient Mexicans, who saw other gods either as too far away from them or too lowly; therefore Huehuecóyotl was associated with balance of the old (huehue) and the new (coyotl), the worldy and the spiritual, the male and the female, as well as youth and old age, in modest parallel with the Mayan
Maya mythology
Mayan mythology is part of Mesoamerican mythology and comprises all of the Mayan tales in which personified forces of nature, deities, and the heroes interacting with these play the main roles...
Hunab Ku
Hunab Ku
Hunab Ku is the name of a supposed Maya deity, described as "the supreme god" whose name appears in only two colonial sources: the Motul Dictionary and the Chilam Balam of Chumayel...
or the Chinese Ying-yang symbol.
Stories derived from the Codex Telleriano-Remensis
Codex Telleriano-Remensis
The Codex Telleriano-Remensis, produced in sixteenth century Mexico and printed on European paper, is one of the finest surviving examples of Aztec manuscript painting...
make him a benign prankster, whose tricks are often played on other gods or even humans but tended to backfire and cause more trouble for himself than the intended victims. A great party-giver, he also was alleged to foment wars between humans to relieve his boredom. He is a part of the Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca
Tezcatlipoca was a central deity in Aztec religion. One of the four sons of Ometeotl, he is associated with a wide range of concepts, including the night sky, the night winds, hurricanes, the north, the earth, obsidian, enmity, discord, rulership, divination, temptation, jaguars, sorcery, beauty,...
(Smoky Mirror) family of the Mexica
Mexica
The Mexica were a pre-Columbian people of central Mexico.Mexica may also refer to:*Mexica , a board game designed by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling*Mexica , a 2005 novel by Norman Spinrad...
gods, and has their shapeshifting
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
powers.
Those who had indications of evil fates from other gods would sometimes appeal to Huehuecóyotl to mitigate or reverse their fate.
Huehuecóyotl shares many characteristics with the trickster Coyote
Coyote (mythology)
Coyote is a mythological character common to many Native American cultures, based on the coyote animal. This character is usually male and is generally anthropomorphic although he may have some coyote-like physical features such as fur, pointed ears, yellow eyes, a tail and claws...
of the North American tribes, including storytelling and choral singing.
The fourth day of the thirteen day Mexican week belonged to Huehuecóyotl.
He was the only friend to Xolotl
Xolotl
In Aztec mythology, Xolotl was the god with associations to both lightning and death.Although often depicted in relation to the underworld, Xolotl was not a psychopomp in the Western sense. Xolotl did, however, aid the dead on their journey to Mictlan, the afterlife in some myths.Xolotl was also...
who is the god of twins, sickness and deformity and accompanies the dead to Mictlan
Mictlan
Mictlan was the underworld of Aztec mythology. Most people who died went to Mictlan, although other possibilities existed . Mictlan was located far to the north, and consisted of nine distinct levels....
(the underworld of Aztec mythology
Aztec mythology
The aztec civilization recognized a polytheistic mythology, which contained the many deities and supernatural creatures from their religious beliefs. "orlando"- History :...
). Their association is born from the canine
Canine
Canine may refer to:* Domestic dog* Animals belonging to the family Canidae, or the sub-family Caninae* Canine tooth* Ralph Canine, American soldier and government administrator* A character in Glenn Martin, DDS...
nature of both gods.