Teōtl ([ˈte.oːt͡ɬ]) is a Nahuatl term for sacredness or divinity that is sometimes translated as "god". For the Aztecs teotl was the metaphysical omnipresence upon which their religious philosophy was based.
As described by James Maffie, teotl "is essentially power: continually active, actualized, and actualizing energy-in-motion... It is an ever-continuing process, like a flowing river... It continually and continuously generates and regenerates as well as permeates, encompasses and shapes reality as part of an endless process. It creates the cosmos and all its contents from within itself as well as out of itself."[1]
This is conceptualized in a kind of monistic pantheism[2] as manifest in the supreme god Ometeotl,[3] as well as a large pantheon of lesser gods and idealizations of natural phenomena such as stars and fire.[4]
Similar concepts to teotl existed elsewhere in Mesoamerica at the time of the conquest, such as in the Zapotec term pee or the Maya ku or ch'u. Such immaterial energy can also be compared to the Polynesian concept of Mana.[5] In Pipil mythology Teut (Nawat cognate of Teotl)[6][7] is known as the creator and father of life.[8]
The gods in the Aztec pantheon, themselves each referred to as a teotl (plural teteo), were active elements in the world that could manifest in natural phenomena, in abstract art, and as summoned or even embodied by priests during rituals – all these could be called teotl.[9]
Molly Bassett identifies major characteristics of teotl as the term is used in the Florentine Codex to get further insight on Aztec religion as described in other codices.[10]
Whereas in most Nahuatl translations of the Bible and Christian texts, "God" (Θεός) is translated with the Spanish word "Dios",[11] in modern translations by the Catholic Church in the 21st century, the word "Teotzin", which is a combination of teotl and the reverential suffix -tzin, is used officially for "God".[12]
^Maffie 2014, p. 23. He continues, "... There are no absolute beginnings - or absolute endings, for that matter - in Aztec metaphysics. There are only continuings. Death, for example, is not an ending but a change of status, because that which dies flows into and feeds that which lives ... in a single, never-ending process of recycling and transformation." (ibid p 24)
^Maffie n.d., sec 2b,2c, citing Hunt 1977 and I. Nicholson 1959; Leon-Portilla 1966, p. 387 cited by Barnett 2007, "M. Leon-Portilla argues that Ometeotl was neither strictly pantheistic nor strictly monistic."
^Maffie 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 1963.
^Miller & Taube 1993, p. 89. For a lengthy treatment of the subject see Hvidtfeldt, 1958
^Lara-Martínez, Rafael; McCallister, Rick. "Glosario cultural Náwat Pipil y Nicarao: El Güegüense y Mitos en lengua materna de los pipiles de Izalco" (PDF) (in Spanish). p. 199. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-27. tewt, teut, "Dios"; teot, náhuatl teotl "god, dios" (Nicaragua) [Squier]. téut, "Dios" [Calvo Pacheco].
^Also used for the Christian God in a modern translation of the New Testament by Jan Morrow and Alan King, "Yojan 1:1". Ne Bibliaj Tik Nawat (in Quechua). 2012. Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Achtu nemik ne palabraj wan ne palabraj nemik itech ne Teut wan Teut ne palabraj.
^Espino, Miguel Ángel (1996) [1919]. Mitología de Cuscatlán (in Spanish). San Salvador: Biblioteca Basica de Literatura Salvadorena. ISBN 9789992301784.
^Bassett 2015, p. 89
^Bassett 2015, pp. 194–196: "a teotl has axcaitl (possessions), a tonalli (prerogative), and a neixcahuilli (an exclusive pursuit) and is mahuiztic (marvelous) and tlazohca (beloved)."
^Bible.is: Genesis in Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl, John in Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl, Central Huasteca Nahuatl, Western Huasteca Nahuatl, Northern Puebla Nahuatl, Southeastern Puebla Nahuatl, Highland Puebla Nahuatl, Guerrero Nahuatl, Northern Oaxaca Nahuatl, Tenango Nahuatl.
^Horatio, Luis (5 March 2013). "Credo en versión Nahuatl". Catoliscopio. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
Teōtl ([ˈte.oːt͡ɬ]) is a Nahuatl term for sacredness or divinity that is sometimes translated as "god". For the Aztecs teotl was the metaphysical omnipresence...
Teotl Studios is an independent video game development studio located in central Sweden. The studio released its debut-game The Ball in October 2010 and...
is a polytheistic and monistic pantheism in which the Nahua concept of teotl was construed as the supreme god Ometeotl, as well as a diverse pantheon...
the different gods as aspects of the singular and transcendent unity of Teotl but the masses were allowed to practice polytheism without understanding...
by teotl... Dialectical polar monism holds that: (1) the cosmos and its contents are substantively and formally identical with teotl; and (2) teotl presents...
the thief, Tepeu, while the Majin, Teotl, is A.I. controlled. Though the player takes no direct control over Teotl, they can give him commands, which...
name Huehueteotl stems from Nahuatl huēhueh [ˈweːweʔ] ("old") and teōtl [ˈteoːt͡ɬ] ("god"). It seems to connect the Old God to certain Mayan deities...
Aztec religion was a monistic pantheism in which the Nahua concept of teotl was construed as the supreme god Ometeotl, as well as a diverse pantheon...
affair, he sought the assistance of the god Teotl. Both the queen and Cipitio were cursed and condemned by Teotl. Cipitio was condemned to live eternity as...
fati Beot Destiny Karma Predestination in Islam Moirai Predestination Ṛta Teotl Weaving (mythology) Karsten, Gustaf E. Michelle Kindler Philology, University...
2,000 years ago. Known to the Aztecs as teotlnanácatl, from the Nahuatl teotl ("god") + nanácatl ("fungus"). This species was categorized by French botanist...
later got in touch with Teotl Studios, authors of Unmechanical. Grip Digital developed the Extended version of the game. Teotl Studios then decided to...
philosophy was the concept of teotl, a Nahuatl term for the animating force of the cosmos and an ever-acting and dynamic mover. Teotl in theological terms could...
Project is a first-person single-player survival video game developed by Teotl Studios and Grip Games. An early access version of the game was released...
as teōnanācatl (literally "divine mushroom": the agglutinative form of teōtl (god, sacred) and nanācatl (mushroom) in Nahuatl language) was reportedly...
creativity ("an enlightened mind"). It is composed of yollotl (heart) and teotl (God, spirit, force, or movement). In Yaqui/Chicana spirituality, which...
in Lenape mythology shekhinah in Judaism sila, inua in Inuit mythology teotl in Aztec mythology mægen in Anglo-Saxon mythology väki in Baltic–Finnic...
more mundane version used for decoration such as in mosaics, and teoxihuitl, a special version embued with qualities of Teotl and valued for its beauty....
For the third update, Teotl Studios integrated their own Mayan-inspired level design with Portal-themed aspects to create additional content for The Ball...
a Dutch-Belgian video game developer, level designer and the founder of Teotl Studios. He serves as technology evangelist for Epic Games, promoting Unreal...
panentheistic worldview, in which teotl represents a unified, underlying universal force. Human beings cannot truly perceive teotl due to its chaotic, constantly...
processes, the teixiptla assumes the life force/universal power (called teotl) of a deity and becomes their embodiment. These ritual costumes included...
Global Information