Tlazolteotl

Tlazolteotl ("Filth Goddess") is the moon goddess of lust, childbirth, steam baths, sin and weaving.

Name
Tlazolteotl is a nahuatl name that can be translated as "Goddess of Filth" or "Filth Goddess", from tlazolli: "trash", "filth", "manure", "stain", "adultery", "infidelity"; and teotl: "God/Goddess", "sacred", "wonderful" "strange", "amazing".

She's also called Tlaelcuani, "She who eats filth" or "Filth Eater", from tlaelli: "dirt", "slovenliness", "excrement", "blood flow"; and quani or cuani: "they who eat".

She's also called Ixcuina or Ix Cuinim, in Teenek, as she's a goddess whose cult most probably originated in the Huaxtec region. From Ix: a feminine prefix and Cuynal: "to shoot an arrow", "to stone/throw a rock", which can be translated as "She who shoots arrows" or "Archer".

Her calendar name is Chiconahui Acatl (9-Reed), as seen in Mixtec codices.

Appearance
Tlazolteotl's appearance is based on several of her representations in codices. Her face is painted white with black dots on her cheeks, a black drop-like element on her forehead and on her mouth. The black mouth is one of the most iconic elements of the goddess' symbols, as it represents her nature as "filth eater" or she who devours/absolves people's sins. Her eyes are white with red extremes, just like most gods are represented in Mixtec codices, implying a supernatural state.

The headband is made of raw cotton and hanging from her ear spools are raw cotton elements. Finally atop her head two cotton spools are displayed as the main elements of her headdress, referencing her role as patron deity of weavers. Her long hair curves in a half moon shape.

The back part of her headdress is commonly represented in codices and include a fan of raven feathers, bird that accompanies Tlazolteotl on the fifth day of each trecena in the sacred calendar and is closely related to the goddess. From it descends a black cape with down motifs. She wears a black neck cloth or pectoral that barely covers her chest and splits into black cloth laces. More black laces float around her, tied at her elbows. Wears blue bracelets with golden beads and her hands are painted white.

Her skirt is long, at mid-shin height and is mostly black with half moon motifs. Her feet are also painted white and wears white cactli (sandals) with black laces.

= Trivia =


 * Tlazolteotl is mentioned by Itzcacalotl in Chapter 5. He says he and Béelia were able to finish an order of textiles on time because they were in the Ce Ollin (1-Movement) trecena ruled by Tlazolteotl in the sacred calendar, as she is a patron deity of weavers.
 * She is the author's favorite Mesoamerican goddess.

= Gallery =

Several depictions of Tlazolteotl in both prehispanic and colonial codices.