Toci

Toci ( "Our grandmother" in Nahuatl ) [From "to-", first person plural possessive, and "cihtli", "grandmother" (the absolutive suffix "-tli" is dropped). See also Campbell (1997).] is a deity figuring prominently in the religion and mythology of the pre-Columbian Aztec civilization of Mesoamerica. In Aztec mythology she is attributed as the "Mother of the Gods" ("Teteo Innan" ["Lit." "gods, their mother". Campbell, "op. cit."] or "Teteoinnan"), and associated as a goddess of the Earth (also called "Tlalli Iyollo", "Heart of the Earth").

Characteristics and associations

Although considered to be an aged deity, Toci is not always shown with specific markers of great age. Toci is frequently depicted with black markings around the mouth and nose, wearing a headdress with cotton spools (Miller and Taube 1993, p.170). These are also characteristic motifs for Tlazolteotl, a central Mesoamerican goddess of both purification and filth ("tlazolli" in Nahuatl), and the two deities are closely identified with one another.

Toci was also associated with healing, and venerated by curers of ailments and midwifes. In the 16th century "Florentine Codex" compiled by Bernardino de Sahagún Toci is identified with "temazcalli" or sweatbaths, in which aspect she is sometimes termed "Temazcalteci", or "Grandmother of sweatbaths". Tlazolteotl also has an association with "temazcalli" as the "eater of filth", and such bathhouses are likely to have been dedicated to either Tlazolteotl or Toci/Temazcalteci. [Sections of the Codex Magliabechiano indicate that the god Tezcatlipoca served as tutelary god for "temazcalli", however its illustrations also clearly show the face of Tlazolteotl above the doorway; see discussion in Miller and Taube (1993, p.159).]

Toci also had an identification with war, and had also the epithet "Woman of Discord".

Traditions in mythology

By one Mexica-Aztec legendary tradition, at some point during their long peregrinations after leaving the mythical homeland Aztlan, the Mexica served as mercenaries to the Culhua at their capital of Culhuacan. The Culhua ruler bestowed his daughter upon the Mexica for an intended marriage with one of the Mexica nobility; however the Mexica's guiding and chief deity Huitzilopochtli intervened and ordered that she be flayed and sacrificed, instead. When this was done she transformed into Toci. The Mexica were expelled from Culhuacan by the Culhua ruler for the act, and the Mexica were pressed on towards Lake Texcoco. It was here that shortly thereafter they founded their capital Tenochtitlan, from which base they would later grow in power to form the Aztec Empire and exert their dominion over the Valley of Mexico (Miller and Taube 1993).

Festivals and rites

During the "veintena" of Ochpaniztli in the Aztec calendar, harvest-time festival rites were held to honor Toci, in her aspect as "Heart of the Earth" (Miller and Taube 1993) were held, associated with the time of harvest.

ee also

*Tlazolteotl

Notes

References

*cite web|last=Campbell |first=R. Joe |year=1997 |title=Florentine Codex Vocabulary |url=http://www.mrs.umn.edu/academic/history/Nahuatl/florent.txt |accessdate=2006-07-17
*cite book|last=Miller |first=Mary |authorlink=Mary Miller |coauthors=and Karl Taube |year=1993 |title=The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya |publisher=Thames and Hudson |location=London |id=ISBN 0-500-05068-6