Aztec mythology; Indian mythology -- Mexico; Mexico -- Religion
Codex Borgia Group Generally.—In this group generally Xipe stands as
the representative of the sign of the day quauhtli. His insignia are
the same as those of the red Tezcatlipocâ, with striped face-painting,
but executed in red and yellow without the human skin, or other special
characteristics, and decorated only with the warrior’s headdress and
Tezcatlipocâ’s ring-shaped breast-ornament. The head and neck are
covered with cloth, on which are stuck downy feather-balls. He holds in
some places a severed arm, which he appears to be smelling or about to
devour.
Codex Borbonicus.—In this codex Xipe is represented as Tezcatlipocâ,
and has the face-painting of the red phase of that god, with the
smoking mirror at his temple, the characteristic white ring, and the
peculiar form of feather back-ornament, which is to be seen in some
other Tezcatlipocâ pictures of this codex. But he wears on his
head-fillet, instead of jewelled disks, an ornament of beaten gold, the
crown of roseate spoonbill feathers, the ends of the bands shaped in
swallow-tailed fashion, and other insignia pertaining to his own
regular dress. The quetzalcomitl on his back carries a banner painted
in light and dark red, his especial colours, and he also bears a shield
painted in light and dark red concentric circles. In this codex he
holds a fire-pan, painted with large patches of rubber gum, in which is
inserted the rattle-stick with Xipe’s bands and loops coloured red and
white, or light red and dark red with bifurcated ends.
Vienna Codex.—Xipe is represented here in the flayed human skin and
designated by the date “Seven Rain.”
Codex Nuttall (Zouche).—Sheet 83: In this codex there is a good
representation of the god, especially as regards his headdress. He is
depicted as the warrior secured to the stone of combat, whose eye sheds
tears at the thought of approaching death, and he bears in his hands
the bâtons with which the military victims defended themselves against
their adversaries (see Festival).
Sahagun MS.—This describes him as having a brown face covered with the
feathers of the quail, and with open lips (chapfallen jaw?). His crown
has parted ends, and he wears a wig of curled feathers. He has golden
ear-plugs. Round the hips he has a woman’s short skirt of zapote
leaves, and shells decorate his feet. His shield is red, with
concentric circles, and he carries a rattle-staff.
MASKS, VASES, ETC.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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