Teotihuacan Fire Lord 1
The Fire Lord is one of the oldest of all Mesoamerican deities, in both history and mythology. As these images show, he is typically depicted as an elderly figure, with wrinkles on his face and a slump in his back. NMAH
Although these three images are all from Teotihuacan, similar images have been created by the Totonacs and the Aztecs. The most common characteristic of all these Fire God images is the urn carried over the shoulders. The urn is occasionally shaped into a shallow bowl; the sculpture could then be used as a ceremonial pyre. NMAH
The Aztecs called the Fire Lord Huehueteotl (.WAV), or the "Old (or Great), Old God". The Aztecs' monolithic tribute to Huehueteotl at GT was inspired by the images they had found at Teotihuacan. NMAH
When worship of Huehueteotl was passed down to the post-Classic civilizations, the image changed little from the original Teotihuacan version. What is interesting about this piece, though, is the fact that it is accompanied by a small mask, left posted near its face. This is from Building A of Xochicalco, Morelos. NMAH
Compared to the abstracted figures from Teotihuacan, this Totonac image shows a more realistic, more human face for the ancient god. This is a close-up from a nearly life-sized statue. NMAH
The Aztec Fire Lord appears here as Xiuhtecuhtli, Lord of the Year. With this title he is the God of Time, but his main role is the provider of fire. He appears in the Aztecs' religious codices carrying a flaming drill. Xiuhtecuhtli is said to reside in the very heart of the earth. He is a younger form of the ancient Huehueteotl, the only god to survive all four of the previous solar ages. GT
