Mesoamerican deity figuring in the pantheons of pre-Columbian cultures
Head of Old God, Huehueteotl, held at the Birmingham Museum of Art
Huehueteotl (/ˌweɪweɪˈteɪoʊtəl/WAY-way-TAY-oh-təl; Nahuatl pronunciation:[weːweˈteoːt͡ɬ]) is an aged Mesoamerican deity figuring in the pantheons of pre-Columbian cultures, particularly in Aztec mythology and others of the Central Mexico region. The spellings Huehuetéotl and Ueueteotl are also used. Although known mostly in the cultures of that region, images and iconography depicting Huehueteotl have been found at other archaeological sites across Mesoamerica, such as in the Gulf region, western Mexico, Protoclassic-era sites in the Guatemalan highlands such as Kaminaljuyú and Late-Postclassic sites on the northern Yucatán Peninsula (Miller and Taube, 1993:189). The name Huehueteotl stems from Nahuatl huēhueh[ˈweːweʔ] ("old") and teōtl[ˈteoːt͡ɬ] ("god"). It seems to connect the Old God to certain Mayan deities called Mam ("Grandfather").
Huehueteotl is frequently considered to overlap with, or be another aspect of, a central Mexican/Aztec deity associated with fire, Xiuhtecuhtli. In particular the Florentine Codex identifies Huehueteotl as an alternative epithet for Xiutecuhtli, and consequently that deity is sometimes referred to as Xiutecuhtli-Huehueteotl.
Statue of Huehueteotl (Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City)
However, Huehueteotl is characteristically depicted as an aged or even decrepit being, often with a beard, whereas Xiutecuhtli's appearance is much more youthful and vigorous, in line with his marked association with rulership and (youthful) warriors.[1][2]
^*Miller, Mary; Karl Taube (1993). The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya. London: Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05068-6.
^Birmingham Museum of Art (2010). Birmingham Museum of Art: Guide to the Collection. London, UK: GILES. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-904832-77-5. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
Huehueteotl (/ˌweɪweɪˈteɪoʊtəl/ WAY-way-TAY-oh-təl; Nahuatl pronunciation: [weːweˈteoːt͡ɬ]) is an aged Mesoamerican deity figuring in the pantheons of...
"Quetzalcoatl-Ehecatl" Gods of creation Ōmeteōtl/Tōnacātēcuhtli: creator gods Huehuetéotl/Xiuhtecuhtli: meaning "old god" and "turquoise lord", god of origin,...
Ixcozauhqui [iːʃkoːˈsaʍkiˀ], and is sometimes considered to be the same as Huehueteotl ("Old God"), although Xiuhtecuhtli is usually shown as a young deity...
is considered to be an aspect of Huehueteotl, the "Old God" and another fire deity. Both Xiuhtecuhtli and Huehueteotl were worshipped during the festival...
and time. His face is painted with black and red pigment. Xiuhtecuhtli-Huehueteotl, the connection of old-age and time. Mictlantecuhtli, god of Mictlan...
n.d., sec 2f: "Literally, 'Two God', also called in Tonan, in Tota, Huehueteotl, 'our Mother, our Father, the Old God.'" Maffie n.d., sec 2f, citing...
and springs); Xipe Totec (a deity of fertility and the natural cycle); Huehueteotl or Xiuhtecuhtli (a fire god); Tlazolteotl (a female deity tied to childbirth...
n.d., sec 2f: "Literally, 'Two God', also called in Tonan, in Tota, Huehueteotl, 'our Mother, our Father, the Old God'" Maffie n.d., sec 2f, citing Leon-Portilla...
and two green stone beads were placed in the other. Images of the gods Huehueteotl-Xiuhtecuhtli, together with Tlaloc, presided over most of the offerings...
Huehuenches or Huehues is a dance whose name is derived from the god Huehueteotl, the god of old age and of the New Fire. A better known similar dance...
and plazas with structures often containing rounded edges. Images of Huehueteotl and Tlaloc appear with this culture, which may indicate the origins of...
animal remains, masks, figurines, specifically one of the Aztec god Huehueteotl, and shards of clay pots in the pyramid, it was agreed upon that the...
of the year "2 Acatl," a procession of priests from the fire cult of Huehueteotl walked from the ceremonial center of Tenochtitlan across the eastbound...
old god of fire, Huehuetéotl, venerated since ancient times throughout Mesoamerica. It has been speculated that the cult of Huehuetéotl may have been one...
Chicomecóatl (earth), Ehécatl Quetzalcóatl (wind), Tláloc (water), and Huehuetéotl (fire). The building has a total of twenty-three rooms distributed over...
constructions and representations of highland Gods, like Tláloc and Huehueteotl appeared. During the Chanal phase (600-1500 CE) cities such as El Chanal...
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