TOMIAUHTECUTLI = “LORD OF THE MAIZE-FLOWER”
ASPECT AND INSIGNIA
Sahagun MS.—The god is painted black and on his face is a plaster of salvia chia. He wears a crown of paper and another of heron-feathers, variegated with plumes of the quetzal. Around his shoulders is cast a band of paper, and his loin-cloth is of the same material. On his feet he wears shells and white sandals. His shield is decorated with a water-rose, and in his hand he bears a rush-staff.
NATURE AND STATUS
This god was connected with the flowering of the maize, on which occasion, during the month tepeilhuitl, octli was drunk and his festival celebrated. (See Sahagun, Appendix to bk. ii.) [[300]]
[1] The locus classicus for representations of the octli-gods is the Codex Magliabecchiano, which presents a most valuable series of them, pp. 49–59. [↑]
[3] “Mirror covered with Straw.” [↑]
[4] See Seler, “Temple-pyramid of Tepoxtlan,” Bulletin 28, U.S. Bureau of Ethnology, p. 349. [↑]
[5] Teatro Mexicana, tom. i. [↑]
[6] Hist. de los Indios, tom. ii, p. 240. [↑]
[8] Manuel de los Ministros, p. 35. [↑]
[10] In The Ascent of Olympus. [↑]