Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Lesser-known Aztec gods and goddesses

MACUILTONALEQUE
Also known as AHUIATETEO, MAQUILTONALEQUE, MACUIL-TONALEQUE

'Macuil' means five. These are five Gods of Pleasure and Excess, and the dangers resulting therefrom.

Their wagging fingers of reprimand show that drinking, gambling, sex and other pleasures should not be taken to extremes. It is for your own good — too much endulgence and you might end up looking like one of the hunchback dwarfish MACUILTONALEQUE.
 
We think you are allowed up to five cups of PULQUE — but who measures the size of the cup?

These five Gods were also invoked by diviners and mystics. Five Gods = five fingers, and with a little hand-waving all the future could be laid bare.

They are all good Southern Gods and their names are MACUILCOZCACUAHTLI, MACUILCUETZPALIN, MACUILMALINALLI, MACUILTOCHTLI and MACUILXOCHITL.