The Sun, the Xiuhcoatl and the eagle: incense burners found at the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan

Summary

In 2009 a spectacular offering containing incense burners was excavated close to the area in which the Tlaltecuhtli monolith was located. Three of these artifacts preserved complex decoration, similar to the iconography that characterizes the incense burners discovered in 1900. Two of the handles of these ritual objects represent disarticulated eagle legs, while the other symbolize the segmented body of a mythical creature, the Xiuhcoatl. The eagle was an essential animal for the Mexica: it was the representation of the Sun and their pelts were dressed by rulers and depictions of gods. It was considered the symbol of bravery and force. On the other hand, the Xiuhcoatl was Huitzilopochtli’s weapon. The body of this animal was composed of trapezoid motifs, culminating in triangular design adorned with flowers of the species Tagetes lucida. This mythical being was related to the Sun and it was considered the nagual of the gods Huitzilopochtli and Xiuhtecuhtli. Designs from this incense burner also evoke the butterfly, insect that symbolized fire, rebirth and the soul of the dead warriors. In this paper I will address the symbolism and use of these complex ritual artifacts in the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• The Seventh Field Season of the Proyecto Templo Mayor: Recent Investigations on the Sacred Precinct of Tenochtitlan

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