Altar

You step out and up onto the roof of the temple, with the moon and stars hanging above you in the night sky. In front of you is a stone altar, a rectangular base supporting a circular main platform.

Obsidian Cross says: Ceremonies and festivals are an important part of honoring gods. There is still some reverence paid to Aztec deities today, controlling rural communities was of less concern than the urban centers. The Spanish were less effective in destroying culture than most people realize.

Historical Worship

The Toxcatl festival was one of the biggest events that had Tezcatlipoca at the center. His ixiptla, a person chosen to act as his embodiment, would ascend the steps of the temple, breaking a flute on each step, and be sacrificed at the top. After that the next ixiptla of Tezcatlipoca would be chosen.

Modern Worship

This is where I'll put links to examples of either worship of Tezcatlipoca or honoring him as a piece of cultural heritage. I feel with mythology many things encourage a subconscious 'culture vulture' type attitude online, so I want to emphasize that figures like Tezcatlipoca did not just up and vanish from people's culture after the conquest.

Site Navigation

Temple Grounds

• -Return to the Entrance to review basic site info.
• -Tour the Zoo to see all the animals linked to Tezcatlipoca, there's much more than just jaguars.
• -Gaze at the celestial bodies of Tezcatlipoca in our Observatory.

First Floor

• -Stop by the Museum to learn about the physical objects related to Tezcatlipoca, and how John Dee of all people is connected to him.
• -Visit the Library for books and links to learn more about Tezcatlipoca. This is also where the website's sources are listed.

Second Floor

• -Our Art Studio will show you the iconography associated with Tezcatlipoca in art and how flexible his depictions could be.
• -To see Tezcatlipoca in non-Aztec contexts, including post-conquest ones, you can visit the Embassy.

Third Floor

• -In the Hall of Mirrors you will see Tezcatlipoca's various other names and aspects not covered by other parts of the temple (he has a lot).
• -The Hall of Feathers is where you can see the connections Tezcatlipoca has to other deities, especially Quetzalcoatl.

Fourth Floor

• -At the Throne Room you can read about the roles Tezcatlipoca played at each level of society.
• -Looking at the Webmaster's Room will tell you more about the person behind this website.

The Top

• -Read about historical rituals and modern honoring of Tezcatlipoca at the Altar. You are here.