Knowledge

Tecpatl

Source 📝

760: 656: 700:) and broken several times. From there first came the azure flint; the second time flowed white flint. They took the white and wrapped it in a blanket. The third time sprouted yellow flint; neither took only saw. The fourth time flowed red flint; neither took . The fifth time sprang the black flint; neither took. Mixcoatl worshiped the gods by offering the white flint, which he wrapped in another blanket; and carried it on his back and went to fight in the place named Comallan, carrying it as an offering to his god, Itzpapalotl. 527: 728: 124: 25: 314: 66: 903:, and it was instrumental in the ritual to bring out the heart of the sacrificial victim, which allowed light to reach the heart of the victim and therefore, was a mediator between life and death, between the divine realm and the human, between heaven, earth and the underworld. Since flint had the potential to make fire, it was considered an expression of celestial starlight on earth. 562: 351:(four hundred cloud snakes, or “countless cloud snakes” - in Nāhuatl, 400 is used to express being countless). This is confirmed by another version of the myth where the Flint serves as a temporary event marker, appearing as a calendar date, as a carrier of the year Centzonmimixcoa are born: "In year 1 Tecpatl Centzonmimixcoa were born, Iztac 387:
among the other women, and disappearing left the crib there . When the other women looked at what was in it, it was a flint and iron were sandeel , with which they killed those whom they sacrificed." Meanwhile, Duran tells his priests" sought a child cot and put into it a flint knife with which they
739:
In the codices, the Moon is usually shown on a framework of dark night, as a kind of vessel cross-cut and usually filled with a liquid form. The vessel appears to be formed by a crooked bone, and inside is almost always the figure of a rabbit, a tecpatl or sometimes a small snail. Sometimes the Moon
840:
The knife inserted into the nasal cavity symbolizes "cut the air", which is a vital element in symbolizing death. The tongue in the form of an obsidian knife (tecpatl) exposed to outside, indicates the need to be fed with the magical substance that was human blood flowing from the heart.
612:), sculpted between the central solar ray and the image of Nahui Ehecatl (4 Wind) quad. The center of the headband has a very similar shape to the knife that can be seen on other representations of the monument, and the tecpatl is commonly found in other representations of this device. 399:, and in rites the mother of Tecpatl is Cihuacoatl. Three different invocations of the primordial mothers: skirt stars, She of the Jade Skirt, the snake woman who is at once a warrior deity, Tecpatl mother of the fourhundreth Centonmimixcoa born, the first gods on earth, in 548:
In the few técpame that have survived, there are some representations of deities in their handles. A famous pre-Columbian example is the carved image of a figure using circular plugs in its ears and a big bow ornament made out of feathers, which associates this figure with
239: 801:, shows a profile of a face that presumably represents the carrier of the tecpatl year(a minor deity). Its teeth and eyes were accented with inlaid white flint and obsidian, a volcanic rock. As it is a sacred sacrificial knife it is symbolically related to 553:, the sun god. Tonatiuh's arms appears to be holding the knife's blade. This particular knife, emphasizes the importance of human sacrifices to feed the gods, especially the sun god, who illuminates the earth and sustains life. 347:(The Place of the Seven Caves) primary array of peoples, fragmenting into 1600 pieces, and from those fragments a thousand and six hundred gods emerge, the first gods on Earth. These gods emerging from the Seven Caves are the 274:
figure and double-edged blade, with elongated ends. Both ends could be rounded or pointed, but other designs were made with a blade attached to a handle. It can be represented with the top half red, reminiscent of the color of
826: 542:
to extract the heart that would feed the gods, in the hope that the offerings would bring blessings to mankind. The most widespread sacrificial procedure among Aztecs, was removal of the heart.
805:, the lower part of the universe where the emaciated beings live . Mictlan was associated with the color black and the tecpatl (sacrificial knife). This knife is associated with the black god 412: 1054: 887:(lord of the underworld) appears as an active sacrificer armed with an ax or a técpal, ready to draw the hearts of his victims, his nose and tongue accuse the form of sharp knives. 747:, the flint knife is imposed inside the lunar glyph replacing the rabbit. This substitution, undoubtedly refers to the relationship between the Moon and death. The Legend of the 545:
There were different types of knives, some of them allude to human sacrifice, being carved as a skull silhouette, where the nose was used as the cutting edge of the weapon.
456:, since in the codices it's represented by high winds, meaning that the air cuts like razor, so it represented xopantla ( spring ), the time of high winds. According to 343:
The Tecpatl was born in the height of heaven shaped as a knife, and was thrown down by his brother, and it was destined to descend from heaven to Earth. It falls in
605:
On the outside edge of the stone, alternating with star glyphs. Each of the latter also uses the tecpatl to represent rays of light (or fire) emitted by the stars.
452:
tletl (fire protector of the grass or fire protector of the year), being the oldest method to produce sparks(and fire) by colliding two flints. It also relates to
783:, with two to seven teeth and an eye in the central region, which has a pupil center and an eyebrow on top; this eye is similar to that shown in the image of 809:, who embodies an obsidian knife representing the black wind. As sacrificial knife, it is also associated with the North (the direction of death) and the 538:
The tecpatl or sacrificial knife, was an important element in Aztec rituals. The tecpatl was used by Aztec priests to open the chest of the victims of
355:(She of the Jade Skirt) begat the fourhundreth mixcohua. Then they went into a cave; and upon entering, their mother gave birth to five more Mimixcoa". 711:
changed his name to Mixcoatl in the second year after the flood and makes fire from two pieces of flint. Which would explain the reason why, in the
684:) sends these five Centzonmimixcoa to destroy their older siblings, but they do not offer any of their kill to the Sun god, or the Earth Lord( 464:
considered the tecpatl as the worst sign of the zodiac, because the men and women born under this sign were happy but prone to infertility.
336:. This knife expresses multiple meanings that carry a complex view of the world which are closely associated with the notions of origin and 1051: 584:
The date Ce Tecpatl (one flint), sculpted between the central solar ray and the image of Nahui Ocelotl(4 Jaguar). Here the flint carries a
1156: 784: 856:
portion of human skulls, adorned with shell and pyrite to represent the eyes, and sacrificial knives to simulate nose and tongue.
875:(Lord of the Earth), is found in various sculptures and manuscripts, with tecpatl representing the tongue of the deity. In the 947: 1176: 1122: 364:, Tecpatl becomes temporal marker of the birth of the Centzonmimixcoa, and the name of the mother goddess switches to Iztac 740:
is represented in the same way as the Sun, with rays, but with different colors and with a snail or tecpatl in the center.
1007: 305:. Although it may have seen only limited use on the battlefield, its sharp edges would have made it an effective sidearm. 301:
The Tecpatl knife was traditionally used for human sacrifice by the Aztecs, but it also was the short-range weapon of the
1038: 919: 188: 225: 207: 105: 52: 160: 1082: 787:(death). Other times it was built into an elaborate handle made of wood or stone inlaid with turquoise and shell. 76: 1069: 167: 145: 379:
they present the homology between this myth and ritual. "Among the ornaments worn by the women representing
853: 426:, the tecpatl was sometimes drawn as a simple flint blade, sharpened with some notches on the edge, in the 514:, to undertake a long and difficult journey through the arid northern lands, part of what is now known as 960: 174: 1025: 629:
were the first man-gods, "they shall be as gods who created mankind and subsequently be slaughtered at
719:. The Tecpatl, linked to the origin of the fire, is also identified as a symbol of the Sun and stars. 790:
Other times, the flint was represented deified bristling with teeth or fangs and jaws with one eye.
156: 598:
The tongues sticking out of the anthropomorphic faces in profile emerging from the jaws of the two
383:
at parties, they also brought a crib on their back, so to bring your child in it, and stood in the
141: 83: 38: 372: 692:, who after destroying the fourhundreth Mimixcoa is given a white flint that came gushing out of 134: 622: 1186: 1108: 779:
In other more elaborate representations in addition to the basic form, the tecpatl can appear
759: 900: 876: 712: 645: 570: 531: 247: 8: 391:
In the version where the Centzonmimixcoa are born from the Tecpatl, the mother's name is
991: 825: 434: 655: 780: 181: 1191: 860: 477: 1133: 1181: 1095: 1058: 896: 884: 849: 829: 677: 626: 539: 500: 496: 461: 445: 423: 396: 365: 352: 348: 337: 333: 280: 82:
The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of
978: 727: 660: 648:: one is the Flint Knife (Tecpatl), and the other is the glyph: Four Movement ( 561: 302: 287: 243: 87: 457: 376: 1170: 704: 526: 395:. In the version that is temporary marker Tecpatl birth, the mother is Iztac 295: 286:
It was the sign of the eighteenth day, the twentieth day of the month of the
659:
Aztec or Mixtec sacrificial knife, probably for ceremonial use only, in the
872: 845: 833: 806: 798: 794: 768: 744: 732: 716: 708: 685: 641: 589: 504: 481: 449: 427: 416: 392: 329: 321: 44: 1115: 772: 697: 693: 649: 630: 515: 400: 344: 476:
symbol and therefore ruled agricultural events. Their patron gods were:
814: 380: 317: 271: 633:, some by jumping into fire, the others by opening their chest with a 569:
The flint knife, is also represented in the following sections of the
748: 673: 599: 411: 361: 511: 510:
Tecpatl Year 1 (1168): the Aztec people left their place of origin,
123: 880: 751:, the name of the moon god is Nahui be Tecpatl (Four-Flint knife). 689: 681: 578: 550: 492: 384: 267: 1032: 499:. On day Ce Tecpatl(One Flint), there was a festival dedicated to 810: 802: 488: 453: 438: 291: 864: 609: 313: 954: 637:
knife, this in order that the new Sun has movement and life".
441:)., the dark place of eternal stillness and rest of the dead. 868: 764: 634: 585: 283:
and the rest white, indicating the color of the flint blade.
276: 263: 255: 595:
The glyph Tecpatl, carved within the circle of twenty days.
473: 1071:
Algunos aspectos del culto a la luna en el México antiguo.
238: 820: 521: 1021: 1019: 1017: 388:
sacrificed the one they called the son of Cihuacoatl."
1063: 871:
and he is carrying another knife with his right hand.
667: 1076: 1014: 974: 972: 970: 722: 148:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 1003: 1001: 1168: 967: 467: 415:Tecpatl (sacrificial knife), image based on the 998: 832:with tecpame representing his nose and tongue ( 565:Representations of the tecpatl in the sun stone 530:Sacrifice of a war captive (Image based on the 943: 941: 939: 937: 935: 933: 931: 929: 890: 1102: 1089: 754: 406: 308: 577:The tongue of the central face representing 1084:La Estela De Los Soles O Calendario Azteca. 985: 980:Tlacatiliztonalli ‘Energía de nacimiento’ . 926: 852:(god of death) were found; made out of the 53:Learn how and when to remove these messages 1158:Mictlantecuhtli y el mundo de los muertos. 616: 556: 676:, as well as the fourhundreth, five more 226:Learn how and when to remove this message 208:Learn how and when to remove this message 106:Learn how and when to remove this message 824: 758: 726: 654: 560: 525: 491:of Ce Tecpatl(One Flint), the gods were 448:, considered the Tecpatl as a symbol of 410: 312: 237: 1125:El sacrificio humano entre los mexicas. 1040:El Sacrificio Humano entre los aztecas. 1009:El Sacrificio Humano entre los aztecas. 715:, the Tecpatl is carrying the glyph of 290:and the beginning of one of the twenty 1169: 821:Tecpatl represented as tongue or nose 696:'s body. It was burned (dedicated to 522:Tecpatl as a tool for human sacrifice 433:Tecpatl was associated with Northern 921:El sacrificio humano en los Mexicas. 879:, the tongue of the central face of 763:Aztec sacrificial knife made out of 672:In the version of the Legend of the 360:In the version of the Legend of the 328:Tecpatl, is one of the most complex 146:adding citations to reliable sources 117: 59: 18: 883:is a tecpatl. In the Codex Borgia, 668:Tecpatl and Mixcoatl – Tezcatlipoca 13: 640:This story is related to two main 602:in the outer ring of the monument. 14: 1203: 895:The Tecpatl was in the middle of 34:This article has multiple issues. 731:Técpatl represented on the Moon 723:Tecpatl associated with the Moon 621:In the accounts written by Fray 122: 64: 23: 1150: 472:The image of the tecpatl was a 133:needs additional citations for 42:or discuss these issues on the 1052:Website of the British Museum. 1045: 913: 848:, 33 skull-masks representing 625:on the origin of Tecpatl: The 608:On the Xihuitzolli (the royal 320:, carrying a bloody tecpatl. ( 242:Técpatl (18th day sign of the 1: 949:TECPATL: ORIGEN Y SACRIFICIO. 906: 899:, it is in the center of the 468:Tecpatl as calendrical symbol 1177:Aztec mythology and religion 7: 891:Tecpatl in Mexica worldview 403:, the womb of the peoples. 16:Symbol from Aztec mythology 10: 1208: 962:Día 18. Tecpatl(Cuchillo). 755:Anthropomorphizing Tecpatl 407:Tecpatl in Aztec mythology 309:Mythical origin of Tecpatl 867:'s tongue is made out of 767:, exhibit from Museo del 368:(She of the Jade Skirt). 688:) . Among these five is 279:, in representations of 680:are born. The Sun god ( 617:Nahui Ollin and Tecpatl 557:Tecpatl in the Sunstone 844:In excavations of the 837: 776: 736: 664: 566: 535: 419: 325: 251: 828: 793:A knife found in the 762: 730: 707:, the myth goes that 658: 564: 529: 414: 373:Bernardino de Sahagún 316: 241: 623:Gerónimo de Mendieta 532:Codex Magliabechiano 248:Codex Magliabechiano 142:improve this article 1057:2015-10-20 at the 838: 777: 737: 665: 567: 536: 420: 326: 252: 246:) (Image from the 781:anthropomorphized 236: 235: 228: 218: 217: 210: 192: 116: 115: 108: 57: 1199: 1161: 1154: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1144: 1138: 1132:. Archived from 1131: 1119: 1113: 1106: 1100: 1093: 1087: 1080: 1074: 1067: 1061: 1049: 1043: 1036: 1030: 1023: 1012: 1005: 996: 989: 983: 976: 965: 958: 952: 945: 924: 917: 861:Codex Borbonicus 503:, patron god of 478:Chalchiuhtotolin 430:it appears red. 231: 224: 213: 206: 202: 199: 193: 191: 150: 126: 118: 111: 104: 100: 97: 91: 68: 67: 60: 49: 27: 26: 19: 1207: 1206: 1202: 1201: 1200: 1198: 1197: 1196: 1167: 1166: 1165: 1164: 1155: 1151: 1142: 1140: 1136: 1129: 1121: 1120: 1116: 1110:Los Aztecas II. 1107: 1103: 1094: 1090: 1081: 1077: 1068: 1064: 1059:Wayback Machine 1050: 1046: 1037: 1033: 1024: 1015: 1006: 999: 990: 986: 977: 968: 959: 955: 946: 927: 918: 914: 909: 897:Aztec mythology 893: 885:Mictlantecuhtli 850:Mictlantecuhtli 830:Mictlantecuhtli 823: 757: 725: 678:Centzonmimixcoa 670: 627:Centzonmimixcoa 619: 559: 540:human sacrifice 524: 501:Huitzilopochtli 497:Mictlantecuhtli 470: 424:Aztec mythology 409: 397:Chalchiuhtlicue 366:Chalchiuhtlicue 353:Chalchiuhtlicue 349:Centzonmimixcoa 338:human sacrifice 334:Aztec mythology 311: 303:jaguar warriors 281:human sacrifice 232: 221: 220: 219: 214: 203: 197: 194: 151: 149: 139: 127: 112: 101: 95: 92: 81: 75:has an unclear 69: 65: 28: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1205: 1195: 1194: 1189: 1184: 1179: 1163: 1162: 1149: 1114: 1101: 1097:Mexico-tenoch. 1088: 1075: 1062: 1044: 1031: 1013: 997: 984: 966: 953: 925: 911: 910: 908: 905: 892: 889: 822: 819: 756: 753: 724: 721: 669: 666: 661:British Museum 644:elements from 618: 615: 614: 613: 606: 603: 596: 593: 582: 558: 555: 523: 520: 469: 466: 408: 405: 310: 307: 288:Aztec calendar 244:Aztec calendar 234: 233: 216: 215: 130: 128: 121: 114: 113: 77:citation style 72: 70: 63: 58: 32: 31: 29: 22: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1204: 1193: 1190: 1188: 1187:Aztec society 1185: 1183: 1180: 1178: 1175: 1174: 1172: 1160: 1159: 1153: 1139:on 2013-07-18 1135: 1128: 1126: 1118: 1112: 1111: 1105: 1099: 1098: 1092: 1086: 1085: 1079: 1073: 1072: 1066: 1060: 1056: 1053: 1048: 1042: 1041: 1035: 1029: 1028: 1022: 1020: 1018: 1011: 1010: 1004: 1002: 995: 994: 993:Tenochtitlan. 988: 982: 981: 975: 973: 971: 964: 963: 957: 951: 950: 944: 942: 940: 938: 936: 934: 932: 930: 923: 922: 916: 912: 904: 902: 898: 888: 886: 882: 878: 874: 870: 866: 862: 857: 855: 851: 847: 842: 835: 831: 827: 818: 816: 812: 808: 804: 800: 796: 791: 788: 786: 782: 774: 770: 766: 761: 752: 750: 746: 741: 734: 729: 720: 718: 714: 710: 706: 705:Aztec codices 701: 699: 695: 691: 687: 683: 679: 675: 662: 657: 653: 651: 647: 643: 638: 636: 632: 628: 624: 611: 607: 604: 601: 597: 594: 591: 587: 583: 580: 576: 575: 574: 572: 563: 554: 552: 546: 543: 541: 533: 528: 519: 517: 513: 508: 506: 502: 498: 494: 490: 485: 483: 479: 475: 465: 463: 460:, the former 459: 455: 451: 447: 442: 440: 436: 431: 429: 425: 418: 413: 404: 402: 398: 394: 389: 386: 382: 378: 374: 371:According to 369: 367: 363: 358: 357: 354: 350: 346: 341: 339: 335: 331: 323: 319: 315: 306: 304: 299: 297: 296:tonalpohualli 293: 289: 284: 282: 278: 273: 270:knife with a 269: 265: 261: 257: 249: 245: 240: 230: 227: 212: 209: 201: 190: 187: 183: 180: 176: 173: 169: 166: 162: 159: –  158: 154: 153:Find sources: 147: 143: 137: 136: 131:This article 129: 125: 120: 119: 110: 107: 99: 89: 85: 79: 78: 73:This article 71: 62: 61: 56: 54: 47: 46: 41: 40: 35: 30: 21: 20: 1157: 1152: 1141:. Retrieved 1134:the original 1124: 1117: 1109: 1104: 1096: 1091: 1083: 1078: 1070: 1065: 1047: 1039: 1034: 1027:ARTE AZTECA. 1026: 1008: 992: 987: 979: 961: 956: 948: 920: 915: 894: 873:Tlaltecuhtli 858: 846:Templo Mayor 843: 839: 834:Codex Borgia 807:Tezcatlipoca 799:Tenochtitlan 795:Templo Mayor 792: 789: 778: 769:Templo Mayor 745:Codex Borgia 742: 738: 733:Codex Borgia 717:Tezcatlipoca 709:Tezcatlipoca 702: 686:Tlaltecuhtli 671: 642:iconographic 639: 620: 590:Tezcatlipoca 568: 547: 544: 537: 509: 505:Tenochtitlan 486: 482:Tezcatlipoca 471: 450:Xiuhtecuhtli 444:The ancient 443: 432: 428:Codex Borgia 421: 417:Codex Borgia 393:Citlalinicue 390: 370: 359: 356: 342: 330:iconographic 327: 322:Codex Borgia 300: 285: 259: 253: 222: 204: 195: 185: 178: 171: 164: 152: 140:Please help 135:verification 132: 102: 93: 74: 50: 43: 37: 36:Please help 33: 836:, page 18). 773:Mexico City 698:Itzpapalotl 694:Itzpapalotl 650:Nahui Ollin 631:Teotihuacan 516:Mexico City 458:Diego Durán 401:Chicomoztoc 377:Diego Durán 345:Chicomoztoc 332:symbols of 258:culture, a 1171:Categories 1143:2014-06-20 907:References 815:Xipe Totec 381:Cihuacoatl 318:Xipe Totec 272:lanceolate 168:newspapers 88:footnoting 39:improve it 901:Sun Stone 877:Sun Stone 785:mizquitli 749:Five Suns 713:Sun Stone 674:Five Suns 600:xiuhcoatl 571:Sun Stone 362:Five Suns 198:June 2014 157:"Tecpatl" 96:June 2014 45:talk page 1055:Archived 881:Tonatiuh 735:page 18. 690:Mixcoatl 682:Tonatiuh 646:Sunstone 579:Tonatiuh 551:Tonatiuh 493:Tonatiuh 435:cardinal 385:tianguis 292:trecenas 268:obsidian 84:citation 1192:Lithics 859:In the 854:rostral 803:Mictlan 743:In the 489:trecena 487:In the 462:Anahuac 454:Ehecatl 446:Anahuac 439:Mictlan 437:point ( 294:of the 260:tecpatl 254:In the 182:scholar 1182:Knives 865:Xolotl 811:flayed 610:diadem 512:Aztlán 262:was a 184:  177:  170:  163:  155:  1137:(PDF) 1130:(PDF) 869:flint 771:, in 765:flint 635:flint 586:glyph 474:lunar 277:blood 264:flint 256:Aztec 189:JSTOR 175:books 813:god 495:and 480:and 375:and 161:news 86:and 797:of 703:In 588:of 422:In 266:or 144:by 1173:: 1016:^ 1000:^ 969:^ 928:^ 863:, 817:. 652:) 573:: 518:. 507:. 484:. 340:. 298:. 48:. 1146:. 1127:" 1123:" 775:. 663:. 592:. 581:. 534:) 324:) 250:) 229:) 223:( 211:) 205:( 200:) 196:( 186:· 179:· 172:· 165:· 138:. 109:) 103:( 98:) 94:( 90:. 80:. 55:) 51:(

Index

improve it
talk page
Learn how and when to remove these messages
citation style
citation
footnoting
Learn how and when to remove this message

verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Tecpatl"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
Learn how and when to remove this message
Learn how and when to remove this message

Aztec calendar
Codex Magliabechiano
Aztec
flint
obsidian
lanceolate
blood
human sacrifice
Aztec calendar
trecenas

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.