There but remains the etymology of Quetzalcoatl’s name. It is compounded of the element quetzalli and coatl. The first denotes the bright green tail-feathers of the quetzal bird, and coatl = “snake,” so that the whole implies “feathered snake.” The generally accepted belief is that this name applies to the rain-bearing clouds which accompany the trade-wind, although others have seen in it a description of the rain itself, and still others the ripples made by wind on water. But quetzal in a secondary sense means “precious,” and coatl is capable of being translated “twin.” The Mexicans themselves, however, frequently drew and sculptured the god as a feathered serpent, although this may easily have possessed a merely pictographic significance. In any case, after prolonged consideration on the etymology of the name, I do not, so far, see any reason to quarrel with the currently accepted rendering of it. CHAPTER IV THE CREATIVE DEITIES TONACATECUTLI—TONACACIUATL (TONACATECUTLI = “LORD OF OUR SUBSISTENCE”) Area of Worship: Mexico; originally Atlantic coastlands, the Olmeca lands and Tlaxcallan. Anciently Toltec. Minor Names: Ometecutli = “Twofold lord.” Tlachinale = “Lord of Creation.” Tlatecque = “Lord of the Earthly World.” Teotlale = “Lord of the Steppe.” Matlaua = “Lord of the Net.” Topeua = “Lord of the Mountains.” Tloque Nahuaque = “Lord of the Close Vicinity.” Relationship: Father of Quetzalcoatl. Calendar Places: Ruler of the first day, ce cipactli, of the first week and of the fourth day-hour. Compass Direction: West. Symbol: The human pair beneath the coverlet. ASPECT AND INSIGNIA Codex Vaticanus A.—In the Codex Vaticanus A Tonacatecutli’s body-paint is red and pink. His headdress is bound by a fillet richly encrusted with turquoises, having in front the conventional bird’s head which is so frequently encountered in representations of the Mexican gods in the codices. He wears the nasal ornament of serpentine shape peculiar to the octli- or drink-gods, as to some of the deities of fertility, and his fruitful or life-giving nature is symbolized by a foot-stool composed of maize ears.