The Aztecs have been identified for his or her many distinctive deities, however one of the fascinating is Xōchipilli, the Aztec god of flowers, love, artwork, and fertility, in addition to patron of homosexuality. Xōchipilli’s identify actually interprets into “flower prince,” a title clearly depicted by his well-known statue. Xōchipilli was closely worshipped throughout numerous non secular ceremonies and festivals in the course of the 14th and fifteenth centuries and has sturdy ties to the hallucinogens used throughout these occasions.

So what can we learn about Xōchipilli, and the way do we all know it? What discoveries have been made which have led us to those conclusions?

Xochipilli’s Ecstatic Universe, oil portray by Mexican artist Tino Rodriguez, 2004 (Thomas Hawk /  CC BY NC 2.0 )

Xōchipilli’s Statue: Discovery of a Flower-Lined Figurine

Through the nineteenth century, an amazing discovery was made close to Tlalmanalco. Alongside the facet of the Popocatépetl volcano, an historic  Aztec statue  of Xōchipilli was found in glorious situation. The statue was product of stone and measured roughly 1.2 meters (3.9 toes) in peak. Researchers assessed the statue and decided that it was created someday within the sixteenth century.  

The statue depicts Xōchipilli sitting cross-legged on a sacred base. Each Xōchipilli and his base are coated in numerous organisms, together with hallucinogenic mushrooms, tobacco, morning glories, cacahuaxochitl, and sinichuichi. There’s a further  flower on the statue that consultants haven’t but recognized. It’s potential that this flower is now extinct, though consultants are nonetheless working to determine it. The statue additionally has just a few  butterflies on it, an insect Xōchipilli cherished resulting from its grace and wonder.

Xōchipilli himself sits atop his intricate throne together with his head tilted up towards the solar. His eyes and mouth are open, as are his arms to open his physique to the heavens. It’s possible that this place is in reference to the  Aztec’s worship of the solar . This place symbolizes Xōchipilli’s carefree, relaxed perspective about life and his love for residing issues. Total, the statue does a wonderful job depicting Xōchipilli and the various domains for which he was accountable.

Some consultants imagine the statue depicts Xōchipilli in a hallucinogenic state resulting from dilated pupils and the presence of psychedelic mushrooms. Whereas that is possible because of the abundance of hallucinogenic mushrooms utilized in Aztec ceremonies, it can’t be stated for sure if this was the artist’s intention.

Statue of Xōchipilli from the Late Postclassic Interval (1250-1521), found close to Tlalmanalco, now on show on the Nationwide Museum of Anthropology, Mexico Metropolis (Antony Stanley /  CC BY SA 2.0 )

The Carefree Deity behind the Statue

As beforehand talked about, Xōchipilli is the god of many issues. He’s a deity in control of a number of domains together with flowers,  artwork, dance, tune, video games, sexuality, and  fertility. Specifically, Xōchipilli is taken into account a patron of homosexuality resulting from his affiliation with male prostitution. This a part of his historical past could have originated with the Toltecs however carried over into  Aztec non secular practices .

As a result of he dominated over so many fields, Xōchipilli developed totally different names over time. Aztecs would generally name him Chicomexōchitl in the event that they have been referring to his area in artistry, whereas they’d name him Macuilxōchitl if referring to his video games. He was principally related to  patolli, a serious playing recreation that is among the oldest identified video games in America. Excessive gamers would wager objects akin to jewellery, valuable stones, clothes, properties, members of the family, and even their very own freedom. The sport was taken so severely that gamers must name upon Macuilxōchitl to arrange them earlier than beginning to play.

Patolli recreation being watched by Macuilxochitl (alternate identify for  Xōchipilli) as depicted on web page 48 of the Codex Magliabechiano ( Public Area )

The precise organisms discovered on the Xōchipilli figurine present consultants with additional perception into his affect on Aztec tradition. A majority of the organisms discovered on his statue have been hallucinogenic mushrooms, which performed a serious position in Aztec non secular celebrations. These  mushrooms have been possible both  Psilocybe mexicana  or Psilocybe aztecorum , native species of mushrooms identified for his or her hallucinogenic results. These psychedelic fungi have been so well-liked that they have been even nicknamed  Teonanácatl, which interprets to “flesh of the gods.” His affiliation with hallucinogens additionally marked him as a deity of delicate mischief and sensible jokes.

Historic paperwork and the invention of Xōchipilli’s statue all level to Xōchipilli representing a wide range of human pleasures. These attending a ceremony or competition worshipping him would typically partake in an assortment of actions, together with consuming psychedelic mushrooms and ingesting  pulque, an alcoholic drink made out of agave. His ceremonies have been typically a celebration of youth and carefree enjoyment of all life has to supply.

Pulque stays a preferred drink with in Mexico at this time, with numerous flavors. There’s even a Museo del Pulque y las Pulquerías! (Secretary of the Tradition of Mexico Metropolis / CC BY 2.0)

Worshippers would adorn Xōchipilli’s statue with flowers, mushrooms, butterflies, and corn as choices to honor him for his contributions to their tradition. Lots of his worshippers have been male prostitutes and homosexual males who sought the god’s energy and therapeutic for well being and relationship issues. There was additionally a substantial amount of male prostitution occurring in the course of the ceremonies themselves. Since Xōchipilli’s celebrations have been typically centered on human pleasure via intercourse, medication, and alcohol anyhow, prostitution at these occasions was frequent.

Xochipilli, Aztec God of dance and music, 900-1500 AD (Lombards Museum /  CC BY 3.0 )

Although Xōchipilli is closely related to male prostitution and homosexuality, he was typically paired with  Xochiquetzal, the goddess of affection, fertility, magnificence, being pregnant, and childbirth. Xochiquetzal is commonly seen as Xōchipilli’s feminine counterpart since each deities are related to flowers and fertility. They have been additionally each closely favored by younger worshippers for his or her concentrate on promiscuity, pleasure, and need. Fairly than being seen as romantic companions, they have been typically considered as siblings when paired up.

Xochiquetzal, Goddess of Magnificence and Love, as depicted within the sixteenth century Codex Borgia. This Aztec goddess was regularly considered as Xōchipilli’s feminine counterpart or sibling. ( Public Area )

Xōchipilli Could Encourage You Too

Xōchipilli’s well-known statue now resides within the Nationwide Museum of Anthropology in Mexico Metropolis. Though he’s not worshipped, his historical past as an Aztec deity is definitely an interesting one. In contrast to many different deities, he was not perceived as vengeful or scary. He was beloved for his carefree, lighthearted perspective on life – one thing many can get behind.

High picture: Left; Aztec god Xochipilli as described within the sixteenth century Codex Borgia, Proper; Xochipilli, Aztec terracotta Lombards Museum.  Supply: Left;  Public Area  Proper; CC BY 3.0

By Lex Leigh