Wind Gods of Mexican Mythology: History +15 Facts

Meet the Wind Gods of Mexican Mythology. We show you their legends and most extended meanings in history.

Ehecatl

Wind Gods of Mexican Mythology

In Mexican mythology, there are a great number of gods and mythical beings that are part of their beliefs and legends. However, according to the beliefs of each tribe that belongs to the Mexican zone, each deity has a different meaning.

Specifically the Aztecs, considered that the wind gods of Mexican mythology come directly from the Mixtec god “Quetzalcoatl”; which took different manifestations according to each region in minor deities representing the four winds.

Ehecatl, god of the wind in Mexican Mythology

In Mesoamerican mythology, especially in Mexican mythology, the main wind god was represented by “Ehecatl”. However, in most of the tribes belonging to Mexican mythology, there is a strong belief that Ehecatl is really just one of the manifestations of the god Quetzalcoatl.

For this reason, it was very common for Ehecatl to be called “Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl”. He represents the breath of all living beings; he also plays a fundamental role in the breezes that help the rain-bearing clouds to reach the crops.

Ehecatl, has a very important participation in the creation of the world; this is because he became a hero of Mexican mythology. Thanks to his breath, he initiated the movement of the sun and the moon during the time of the fifth sun.

In addition, he is in charge of attracting rain and can also take it away. He also gave mankind the gift of love and the ability to fly. The representation of his love is embodied in a sacred tree that grows right in the place where Ehecatl descended to earth for the first time.

Ehecatl, god of the wind of Mexican mythology

Ehecatl’s relationship with other gods of Mexican mythology

There was a very close relationship between the god Ehecatl and the god Tlaloc. This is because Ehecatl was in charge of cleaning the air that would descend before the rains of Tlaloc. This brought as a consequence that the rain and the wind, manifested together on the earth.

Also during the time of the fifth sun, Ehecatl was related to the god of light Nanautzin, and the god of the moon Tecciztécaltl. When Ehecatl blew directly on these two stars to activate their movement over the earth.

In addition, Ehecatl gave the ability to love all living beings and also gave them breath; and the gift of flight.

History of the wind gods of Mexican Mythology

The origin of the name of the main wind god Ehecatl, in the Nahuatl language means “wind”. And in the Mexican mythology, mainly in the Aztec Ehecatl; it is really a manifestation of the god Quetzalcoatl.

Quetzalcoatl, as the wind god of Mexican mythology

These tribes that belonged to the Mesoamerican mythology, depended essentially on agriculture; and it is from there the belief that Quetzalcoatl who was their most ancient, powerful and important deity. He manifested himself in a supreme wind god and other minor deities representing the bordering winds:

  • North Wind: Mictlecayotl, also called Mictlamp Ehécatl.
  • South Wind: Huitztecayotl, known as Huitztlampa Ehécatl
  • East Wind: Tlahuiztecayotl, called Tlahuiztlampa Ehécatl
  • West Wind: Cihuatecayotl, commonly called Cihuatlamp Ehécatl.

Iconography of the wind gods of Mexican mythology

In Mexican mythology, there are no records of all the representations of the god Quetzalcoatl as wind gods. However, there are records of the physical description of the god Ehecatl.

Ehecatl is described as a mythical being of black color; wearing a red mask with the shape of a beak. Although in some occasions, he is even described with a double mask.

Around his neck, he wore a necklace made with mollusks; this is because snails are used to make calls to the wind, and have a sound that resembles the sound of the wind blowing. And their temples were generally made in a circular shape to help the circulation of the wind.

Temples of the wind gods of Mexican Mythology

Temple of Ehecatl

The main temple dedicated to the wind gods of Mexican mythology was the temple of the god Ehecatl. It was designed in a circular shape, and also in a conical style with some curved ends.

This is due to the fact that these shapes play a fundamental aerodynamic role to help in the circulation and distribution of air inside the temple.

Templo de Ehécatl, god of the wind of Mexican mythology

Pancuetlacalóyan Temple

Within Mexican mythology, there is a belief that the temple of Pancuetlacalóyan is the place where the god of the north wind, Mictlecayotl, lives.

The temple of Pancuetlacalóyan is part of the Itzehecáyan complex. It is the place where the dead were raised as flags; at the mercy of the winds until they finally managed to leave the paths of the temple.

Conclusion

In Mesoamerican mythology Quetzalcoatl, is the oldest and main god; and although he is commonly known as “the feathered serpent”, it is believed that he has different manifestations that represent the wind gods of Mexican mythology.

In each of the regions that belong to Mexican mythology, the wind god was known as “Ehecatl” . Also from Ehecatl, comes a group of minor deities called “Ehecatloques”; these represented each limit zone of the winds; that is to say, North, South, East and West.

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