Aztec Green Stone Sculpture of Macuilxochitl

The Aztec civilization is perhaps the most celebrated of the ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Their empire stretched throughout northern Mexico and was surpassed in size only by that of the Incans. Tenochtitlan (modern-day Mexico City) was the center of their religious and political systems. The city was composed of a group of island located in the center of Lake Texcoco, earning it the nickname “Venice of the New World.” By the time the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in the early 16th Century, led by the infamous Hernan Cortes, Tenochtitlan was by far larger than any city they could have seen in Europe. Today, the Aztec are remembered for their grand temple complex ruins, for their intricate calendar system, and for the few examples of their art that survive today. Aztec art was primarily ecclesiastical and is renowned for its powerful nature. Highly adept at working with stone, the Aztec artists created artworks that were both grand in scale, as evidenced in their temple architecture, and relatively small in size. Like many cultures, the Aztecs believed that many animals had supernatural symbolic associations. Therefore, although the Aztec gods were usually visualized in human form, most gods also had animal aspects. Moreover, it was believed that both men and gods could, at certain times, actually change themselves into powerful animals.

Macuilxochitl, whose name means Five Flower, is the Aztec god of music, dance, flowers, and games. He is closely associated with Xochipilli, or Flower Prince. They are sometimes referred to as being the same god, or as being siblings. He appears in many guises, however, perhaps the most fascinating and delightful is the example here in which he appears peering out from the mouth of a turtle.

According to the Florentine Codex, offerings were made to Macuilxochitl not only during games, but also during the Feast of the Flower. During this celebration the Mexica fasted for four days. On the fifth day a man dressed as Macuilxochitl danced as others sang around him. This was followed by the sacrifice of a quail, which was then passed from person to person as they drew blood from it. Five tamales were then brought to his temple. When the feast was celebrated, a number of “tribute captives” were sacrificed. Macuilxochitl punished those who did not participate in practices of the feast, or experienced excessive amounts of pleasure through the infliction of various ailments such as boils and hemorrhoids. – Bernardino de Sahagún, “The Gods,” in Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain, ed. Arthur J. O. Anderson et al. (Santa Fe: School of American Research and U of Utah Press, 1951), 13-14