macuilli: aztec mythology series ➝ coyolxauhqui Coyolxauhqui was the moon goddess according to Aztec

macuilli:

aztec mythology series ➝ coyolxauhqui

Coyolxauhqui was the moon goddess according to Aztec mythology. She was the daughter of the Earth goddess, Coatlicue and the sister of the sun god, Huitzilopochtli.

“Coyolxauhqui, upon learning that her mother was pregnant from an unknown father, encouraged her four hundred sisters and brothers to kill her in order to amend the dishonor. When they arrived, Coatlicue gave birth to Huitzilopochtli, who sprang out of his mother as an adult fully armed and saved her.

In the end, Coatlicue regretted such violence. Thus, after cutting off Coyolxauhqui’s limbs, Huitzilopochtli tossed her head into the sky where it became the moon, so that his mother would be comforted in seeing her daughter in the sky every night.”