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Coatlicue

By Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank
Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Mother, goddess, sacrificial offering?

The Coatlicue sculpture in Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology is one of the most famous Mexica (Aztec) sculptures in existence (her name is pronounced "koh-at-lee-kway"). Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is truly an imposing sight.
Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Numerous snakes appear to writhe across the sculpture’s surface. In fact, snakes form her entire skirt, as well as her belt and even her head. Coatlicue’s name literally means Snakes-Her-Skirt, so her clothing helps identify her. Her snake belt ties at the waist to keep a skull “buckle” in place. Her upper torso is exposed, and we can just make out her breasts and rolls in her abdomen. The rolls indicate she is a mother. A sizable necklace formed of hands and hearts largely obscures her breasts.
Two enormous snakes curl upwards from her neck to face one another (see the image below). Their bifurcated, or split, tongues curl downwards, and the resulting effect is that the snake heads and tongues appear to be a single, forward-facing serpent face. Snakes coming out of body parts, as we see here, was an Aztec convention for squirting blood. Coatlicue has in fact been decapitated, and her snaky head represents the blood squirting from her severed neck. Her arms are also formed of snake heads, suggesting she was dismembered there as well.
Snakes facing one another (detail), Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Snakes facing one another (detail), Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
You might read elsewhere that Coatlicue was decapitated by her daughter or beheaded when her son was born from her severed neck (the idea has been adopted in part to explain this monumental sculpture). However, the myth from which this story derives does not actually state that Coatlicue suffered this fate. For this reason, it is useful to review the myth—one of the most important for the Aztecs.

Battle atop Snake Mountain

The primary myth in which Coatlicue is involved recounts the birth of the Aztec patron deity, Huitzilopochtli (pronounced "wheat-zil-oh-poach-lee"). This myth was recorded in the later sixteenth century after the Spanish Conquest of 1521. The main source from which we learn about it is the General History of the Things of New Spain, also called The Florentine Codex (written 1575–77 and compiled by the Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún, Indigenous authors and artists, and Indigenous informants). [1]
Illustration of the Battle of Coatepec from Bernardino de Sahagún, General History of the Things of New Spain (The Florentine Codex), 1575–77, volume 1, page 420 (Library of Congress, World Digital Library)
Illustration of the Battle of Coatepec from Bernardino de Sahagún, General History of the Things of New Spain (The Florentine Codex), 1575–77, volume 1, page 420 (Library of Congress, World Digital Library)
One day Coatlicue, an earth goddess, was sweeping atop Coatepec (or Snake Mountain), when a feather fell into her apron. At that moment, she immaculately conceived a son, whose name was Huitzilopochtli (a sun and warrior god). Upon hearing that her mother was pregnant, Coyolxauhqui (or Bells-Her-Cheeks, pronounced "coy-al-shauw-kee") became enraged. She rallied her 400 brothers, the Centzonhuitznahua, to storm Snake Mountain and kill their mother.
One of the brothers decided to warn Coatlicue. Upon hearing of this impending murder, Coatlicue became understandably afraid. But Huitzilopochtli comforted her, telling her not to worry. At the moment Coyolxauhqui approached her mother, Huitzilopochtli was born, fully grown and armed. He sliced off his sister’s head, and threw her body off the mountain. As she fell, her body broke apart until it came to rest at the bottom of Snake Mountain.
But what became of Coatlicue, the mother to the victorious Huitzilopochtli and the defeated Coyolxauhqui? The myth does not mention her decapitation and dismemberment (only her daughter’s), so why would this famous sculpture display her in this manner?

Why was Coatlicue decapitated?

More recently, a new interpretation has been offered for Coatlicue’s appearance that is based on another myth (recounted in different Spanish Colonial source) concerning the beginning of 5th era, or 5th sun. The Aztecs believed that there were four earlier suns (or eras) prior to the one in which we currently live. The myth notes that several female deities (perhaps Coatlicue among them), sacrificed themselves to put the sun in motion, effectively allowing time itself to continue. They were responsible for preserving the cosmos by offering their own lives.
Skirt (detail), Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Skirt (detail), Coatlicue, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), found on the SE edge of the Plaza mayor/Zocalo in Mexico City, basalt, 257 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
After this point, these female deities were then symbolized by their skirts (called mantas), which could explain the careful attention paid to Coatlicue’s snaky skirt. It functions as a reminder of her name—Snakes-Her-Skirt—as well as symbolizing her as a deity and reminding the viewer of her past deeds. This might also explain why—in place of her head—we have two snakes rising from her severed neck. They represent streaming blood, which was a precious liquid connoting fertility. With her willing sacrifice, Coatlicue enabled life to continue.
Coatlicue de Cozcatlán, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), 115 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Google Arts & Culture)
Coatlicue de Cozcatlán, c. 1500, Mexica (Aztec), 115 cm high (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City; photo: Google Arts & Culture)
Some details on the sculpture support this newer and enticing interpretation. There is a date
, 12 Reed, inscribed on the sculpture’s back which might relate to the beginning of a new solar era. [2] Archaeologists have also found the remains of several other monumental sculptures of female deities similar to Coatlicue, but each display different skirts. One of these sculptures stands near to Coatlicue in the Anthropology Museum, but hearts adorn her skirt instead of snakes (you can see this sculpture in the photo at the top of the essay).
Despite her fame in one of the most important Aztec myths concerning their patron god, Coatlicue did not have numerous stories recorded about her during the sixteenth century (that we know of at least). Few surviving Aztec objects display her. However, another stone sculpture in the National Museum of Anthropology—on a much smaller scale—shows Coatlicue with her head intact. We can identify her by her snaky skirt. Her face is partly skeletonized and de-fleshed. Her nose is missing, revealing the cavity. Yet she still has flesh on her lips, which are open to reveal bared teeth. Even with her head, this version of Coatlicue still seems intimidating to us today. But was she perceived as terrifying by the Aztecs or is this only a twenty-first century impression of her?

Terrifying and respected

Prior to the Spanish Conquest, Coatlicue related to other female earth deities, such as Toci (Our Grandmother). Several sixteenth-century Spanish Colonial sources mention that Coatlicue belonged to a class of deities known as tzitzimime (deities related to the stars), who were considered terrifying and dangerous. For example, outside of the 360-days that formed the agricultural calendar (called the year count or xiuhpohualli), there were five extra “nameless” days. The Aztecs believed this was an ominous time when bad things could happen. The tzitzimime, for instance, could descend to the earth’s surface and eat people or at least wreak havoc, causing instability and fear. In Spanish Colonial chronicles, the tzitzimime are depicted with skeletonized faces and monster claws—similar to what we see in Coatlicue sculptures discussed here. These sources also call the tzitzimime demons or devils.
For all their ferociousness, however, the tzitzimime also had positive associations. Ironically, this group of deities were patrons of midwives, or women responsible for helping mothers with their babies. People also invoked them for medical help and they had associations with fertility. For these reasons, they had a more ambivalent role than as simply good or bad deities, and so they were both respected and feared.

Created, buried, found, buried, found again

After the Spanish Conquest, the monumental Coatlicue sculpture was buried because it was considered an inappropriate pagan idol by Spanish Christian invaders. After languishing in obscurity for more than 200 years, it was rediscovered in 1790.
Image published in Antonio León y Gama’s 1792 book, Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras que con ocasión del nuevo empedrado que se está formando en la plaza principal de México, se hallaron en ella el año de 1790 (Library of Congress, Jay I. Kislak Collection)
Image published in Antonio León y Gama’s 1792 book, Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras que con ocasión del nuevo empedrado que se está formando en la plaza principal de México, se hallaron en ella el año de 1790 (Library of Congress, Jay I. Kislak Collection)
Antonio León y Gama, a curious historian, astronomer, and intellectual living in Mexico City at the time, drew illustrations of the sculpture and offered his interpretation of who it displayed (he claimed it was Teoyaomiqui). Not long after it was found, however, Coatlicue was reburied—she was considered too frightening and pagan. Eventually, she was uncovered again in the twentieth century, becoming one of the crowning objects of the National Anthropology Museum and a famous representative of Aztec artistic achievements in stone sculpture.
Notes:
[1] There are several other myths that make mention of Coatlicue, but the most frequently cited myth is the one in the Florentine Codex discussed in the text.
[2] See Cecelia Klein, "A New Interpretation of the Aztec Statue Called Coatlicue, 'Snakes-Her-Skirt'," Ethnohistory 55, no. 2 (Spring 2008): pp. 229–250.

Additional resources
Read a Reframing Art History chapter that includes a discussion of Mexica art, "Mesoamerica, 900–16th century."
Elizabeth M. Brumfiel and Gary M. Feinman, eds., The Aztec World (New York: Abrams, 2008).
H. B. Nicholson and Eloise Quiñones Keber, Art of Aztec Mexico: Treasures of Tenochtitlan (National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1983).
Esther Pasztory, Aztec Art (University of Oklahoma Press, 1983).
Richard Townsend, The Aztecs, 3 ed. (London: Thames and Hudson, 2009).
Davíd Carrasco and Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, eds. Moctezuma’s Mexico: Visions of the Aztec World, revised (University Press of Colorado, 2003).
For myths in the Florentine Codex, see Charles E. Dibble and Arthur J. O. Anderson, eds. Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain, 12 vols. (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1950–82).

Essay by Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank

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  • mr pants teal style avatar for user Anthony Natoli
    In the sixth paragraph, it says "But Huitzilopochtli comforted her, telling her not to worry. At the moment Coyolxauhqui approached her mother, Huitzilopochtli was born". So, Huitzilopochti spoke to his mother from inside the womb? Later, he was born fully grown and armored, that's in the myth, but was he also fully grown in the womb before birth? I don't expect myths to be rational, but I'm curious if there are versions of this myth that mentions Huitzilpochtli being fully grown inside the womb?
    (10 votes)
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  • mr pink red style avatar for user doctor_luvtub
    During what part of the year were the five extra “nameless” days, when bad things could happen?
    (5 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user Juan O'Gorman
    Just a small comment. Take it as truth or lie is up to you. According to many people in Mexico who still speak the fluent language of Nahuatl Tonantzin Tlalli Coatlicue ( Our Venerable Mother Skirt of Serpents) "Metophorically " represents the mother earth. It is kind of a mouthfull but each word really needs to be broken down into its metaphoric meaning. Nahuatl language uses a lot of metaphors. She is the mother earth that we venerate, not worship, for the life she gives to us all. She is a life giving force. The duality for her is the Male aspect called Tlaltecuhtli the Earth Lord. All energies carry it opposite to create balance or harmony. The two snakes for the head are opposing forces that create life and make one face that faces us. Her Skirt is the mountains of Mexico or the earth that weave in and out. Her necklace carries the hands and the hearts of human beings which is our hearts what we desire or have desired,hands or labor or our work. The Claws she has are the jaguars claws, a being that lives in the darkness which represents our death. With her claws she has a firm grip on the labors and the hearts hopes and dreams of human beings. In the end we return to her. In other words she will devour us. No one escapes death. We will be eaten by the earth ( decomposition).
    The story of the Birth of Huiztlipochtli is the sun at its furthest point south or the winter solstice where there is longer nights. That is were his sister the moon and his brothers the inumerable stars rule. After the winter solstice of dec. 21st the sun begins to gain strength beating back the night sky with its rays of light or Xiuhcoatl (snake of fire). Light moves like a snake in waves. Later in June 21st the sun changes from a hummingbird to an eagle. This basically means it is a being a stronger intensity of light.
    This is basically a metaphoric story we usually use to teach children the basic cycles of the sun the earth and the stars. There is a lot more but it would take a long time to write.
    Please doubt what I have written and either prove or disprove it for yourself.
    In the Mexica or aztec tradition of Tezcatlipoca they say there are often many facets to the truth.
    (6 votes)
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  • starky tree style avatar for user Maia Diamonstone-Cruz
    What kind of materials did the Mexica use to build their buildings and other carvings/statues?
    (4 votes)
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  • old spice man blue style avatar for user randomname19911
    In the last video, it was said that the catilicue was decapitated but then, did people ever find the head or is the head lost forever?
    (2 votes)
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    • aqualine tree style avatar for user David Alexander
      All of this is part of one religion's sacred stories. Nobody wonders where Sisyphus' boulder is located, or how Promethius' liver regenerated overnight. Those are sacred stories of ancient Greek religion. In the same way with ancient Mexican religions, there is no need to account for the physical remnants of divine beings.
      (3 votes)
  • winston default style avatar for user Jong Poblador
    Were there traces of blood or organic flesh found in the statue?
    (3 votes)
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  • duskpin ultimate style avatar for user Violamaster
    Did they think of her as the goddes of sacrifices? Or the goddess of iron discipline and terror because it said she was feared and respected.
    (1 vote)
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    • leaf orange style avatar for user Jake Suzuki
      Neither as far as I have read, she's postulated to be a primordial earth goddess, earth the mother, the provider of life, and earth the merciless, the taker of life.
      Both aspects to her were in a constant flux, there was no real distinction between the two sides, as fas as one can assume, to the Mexica, she was both womb, and grave, at once.
      She is another example of ancient people's wide spread veneration of womanhood: fertility, earth, and the horror of nature.
      (4 votes)
  • leafers sapling style avatar for user Melita Fernandes
    how coatlicue's statue was found not broken inspite of being buried twice
    (2 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user MingMerciless82
    Well of this Diety ,COATLICUE : Was she supposed to be a protector of the people(AZTECS) or was she a godess that was to bring fear of all people ,in general?
    Do all the Dieties of the central Americas co-incide with each other?
    Does COATLICUE has an refference to other goddessess in the region?(Mayan,Aztecs or,Incas)
    Upon Reaching the "New World"Are there writings by monks or the missionaries about what they saw? or importantly enough inter-actions with the natives of the "New World",about the ART or the meanings behind the features of their goddess?
    (2 votes)
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  • starky tree style avatar for user GHman1225
    so here were 400 other gods that came from that one goddess?(refrencing back to the sister who was slain rallying her 400 brother )
    (1 vote)
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