Ixtlilton, "He of the Black Face,* god of medicine and healing, was also addressed as Tlatctecuin, the "earth-digger." He was said to be brother of Macuilxochitl. Sick children were carried to his temple to dance, and recite prayers and incantations, after which the priests gave them a special medicine contained in tlilatl "black-water jars." If the patient got better, the image of the god was taken to the house of his residence, where offerings and ceremonial dances were made in his honor.
"Lord of the Sun's Face" the Sun-god of Yucatan, presided over the North. He was also called Kinich-kakmo, "Sun-bird" and Arara, "Fire-bird." The figure of the'Sun is frequently represented upon ancient build ings in Chiapas, Yucatan and Guatemala; and in the latter country certain Indian tribes still wear, on festive occasions, a gala dress with a great, yellow sun depicted on both front and back of the garment. They call themselves °Children of the Sun." Kukulcan, a literal translation of Quctzalcoatl, was the great Maya culture god. He is said to have been the first king of Mayapan, just as tradition makes Quetzalcoatl one of the kings of Tula.
Macuilxochitl, Xochipilli, "Source-of-flowers,* was the patron of luck in gambling. His worship was general throughout the Aztec Empire and nations to the south of it; and he was held in high honor among the Zapotecas and Mixtecas. At a yearly festival dedicated to him, offerings of cakes, animals and human beings were made and ceremonial dances performed in which the people, richly dressed, took part.
Metztli, "the Moon goddess, Yohualticitl, °Lady of the night," was patroness of harvest and fertility. The Zapotecas and Nahuas be tieved that 'women stood in a very special rela tionship to this deity.
Mixcoati, °Cloud-serpent? the Aztec and Otomi god of the chase, was sometimes repre sented as a deer or a rabbit. He carried a sheaf of arrows to typify his office. On the site of a famous ancient shrine of Mixcoatl stands Mixcoac, the "city of gardens,* one of the most popular suburbs of the Mexican capi tal.
Nanahuatl, "Lord of lepers and those af flicted with skin diseases? is always connected with the moon, and diseased persons under his protection were believed to be sacrifices pecul iarly acceptable to her, for whose service they were set apart. The moon goddess was in
timately connected with the art of healing and she also took a special interest in lepers.
Napatecutli, protector of mat-makers, one of the numerous rain gods, was one of the ,ininisters of Tlaloc. He pre sided over the low, swampy lands where the reeds grow from which gnats are still exten sively made in Mexico.
Ornactl, "Two-reeds? Nahua god of fes tivities and rejoicing, whose image always pre sided over the feasts of the well-to-do, was cermonially eaten in the form of a great bone of Indian corn meal at every festival. The idol had a recess in the region of the stomach into which provisions were put. The image wore a paper coronet and a cloak fringed with flowers and carried a sword.
Opochtli, "Left-handed,* Aztec god of fishing, also called, in Chalco, Amimitl, was said to be the inventor of the fish-hook, line and spear and other means of catching fish. The similarity of his name with that of the Aztec god of war would seem to connect him with the latter, especially when it is remembered that Huitzilopochtli was the tribal god of the Aztecs when they were mainly fishers.
the supreme deity of the Toltecs, played an important part in the mythologies of the Nahuas, Itzaes, Mayas, Zapotecas, Mix tecas and other races of Mexico and Central America. He was called Ipalnemohnani, "He by-whom-we-live? As the god of warriors the priest and nobles claimed descent from him. His golden image was hung upon the wall of his court where the first rays of the rising sun fell directly upon it. Human sacrifices were offered to the Sun, whose strength was sustained by the blood of these victims, other wise he would not be able to continue his journey through the sky. Even the hearts of the captives offered to Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca were first presented to the sun. Some of the most magnificent temples of Mex ico, Central America and Peru were erected to the Sun-god.
Tepeyollotl, "Heart:of-the-hills," personifi cation of the echo of the mountains, was one of the nine attendants of the night and lord of the 13 days following the flood, in which no sacrifices were good, and during which the feast of the jaguar was held. He was a southern deity highly Honored among the Zapotecas and the Mixtecas and bordering tribes.