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Goddess Mayahuel

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The goddess Mayahuel. Image from the Codex Borbonicus. According to myth, Mayahuel was a beautiful young maiden who lived in the sky with her horrible grandmother, a tzintzimitl (stars that engage in a daily battle to try to prevent the sun from being born). The young beauty flees with Quetzalcoatl [38B] to make love in a tree with lush foliage, but they are converted into branches, and the grandmother discoveries them and sends her companion tzitzimime to kill them. Quetzalcoatl is saved, but Mayahuel dies and is eaten away by the stars. Her remains are gathered by Quetzalcoatl, who buries them. From them is born the first maguey or agave plant, from which pulque is produced, the ritual beverage and ceremonial offering for the gods.

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Last Modified: January 14, 1998.
Museo del Templo Mayor, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e História, México.
Seminario #8, Centro Histórico. Cuauhtémoc, México, D.F. 06060
©Copyright 1997
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