TONACATECUTLI—TONACACIUATL (TONACATECUTLI = “LORD OF OUR SUBSISTENCE”)
- Area of Worship: Mexico; originally Atlantic coastlands, the Olmeca lands and Tlaxcallan. Anciently Toltec.
- Minor Names:
- Ometecutli = “Twofold lord.”
- Tlachinale = “Lord of Creation.”
- Tlatecque = “Lord of the Earthly World.”
- Teotlale = “Lord of the Steppe.”
- Matlaua = “Lord of the Net.”
- Topeua = “Lord of the Mountains.”
- Tloque Nahuaque = “Lord of the Close Vicinity.”
- Relationship: Father of Quetzalcoatl.
- Calendar Places: Ruler of the first day, ce cipactli, of the first week and of the fourth day-hour.
- Compass Direction: West.
- Symbol: The human pair beneath the coverlet.
ASPECT AND INSIGNIA
Codex Vaticanus A.—In the Codex Vaticanus A Tonacatecutli’s body-paint is red and pink. His headdress is bound by a fillet richly encrusted with turquoises, having in front the conventional bird’s head which is so frequently encountered in representations of the Mexican gods in the codices. He wears the nasal ornament of serpentine shape peculiar to the octli- or drink-gods, as to some of the deities of fertility, and his fruitful or life-giving nature is symbolized by a foot-stool composed of maize ears.
Codex Borgia.—In the Codex Borgia (sheet 61, lower half) the lower portion of his face is painted red, but its upper [[147]]part, as well as the rest of his body which is visible, is coloured yellow. On the cheek is seen a rectangular surface divided into compartments, each of which is tinted a different colour, the distinctive painting of the maize-gods, which, it is believed, symbolizes the maize-field with its many hues. A “gobber” tooth hangs from his mouth as a sign of great age, for as creator he was regarded as one of the most venerable among the gods. Around his forehead is a head-band enriched with precious stones, which recalls that frequently worn by the Sun-god. His necklet consists of a casket of jewels, with lid and feet, on which is represented the symbol of the chalchihuitl jewel.[1] On sheet 60 Tonacaciuatl, the female form of this deity, is depicted in the act of handing Tonacatecutli a flower, symbolic of life or blood. Above this figure is the picture of a red snake, also symbolizing blood. The god wears a jaguar-skin and the goddess an eagle’s, thus illustrating their patronage of the military orders who wore those dresses. (For similar readings, see Codex Laud, 34–5 K). In sheet 57 (lower right-hand corner) he is represented as wearing a beard of black eagle-feathers.
Codex Vaticanus B.—In Codex Vaticanus B (sheet 87) Tonacatecutli is represented with Quetzalcoatl’s head and neck ornaments, combined with the jewelled fillet and bird’s head on forehead. He wears a long beard reaching to the feet.