This glossary contains most, but not all, of the people and places referenced in this book. It is intended as a guide to those names that show up repeatedly, allowing readers to reference and refresh their memories. An approximate pronunciation is also included to facilitate reading.
A
Acamapichtli (ah-cah-mah-PEECHT-lee): a king of Colhuacan, son of Coxcoxtli
Achitometl (ah-chee-toh-MEH-tul): a ruler of Colhuacan who chased the Mexica into Lake Texcoco
Achiutla (ah-CHOOT-lah): mythical city of the Mixteca.
Acolnahuacatl (ah-kol-nah-WAH-kah-tul): a Tepanec king.
Alux (ah-LOOSH): a mystic elfish being, protector of nature and wielder of magic.
Azcapotzalco (ahz-kah-poht-SAL-koh): a Tepanec city-state with ties to the Mexica.
Aztlan (AHST-lahn): ancient homeland of the Nahua (Aztec) tribes.
C
Camaxtli (kah-MAHSHT-lee): leader of the Centzon Mimixcoah. Also known as Mixcoatl or Xipe Totec. Chief god of the Toltecs.
Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl (SEH AH-kah-tul quets-al-KWA-tul): ruler of Tollan. Incarnation of the Feathered Serpent.
Centzon Mimixcoah (CENT-son mee-meesh-KOH-ah): the “Four Hundred Cloud Serpents,” demigods who roamed the earth in the early years of the Fifth Age.
Centzontotochtin (cent-son-toh-TOHCH-teen): minor gods of drunkenness.
Chalchiuhatl (chal-chee-OO-ah-tul): the blood of the gods, “precious liquid.”
Chalchiuhtlicue (chal-chee-oot-LEE-kweh): goddess of rivers and lakes.
Chapultepec Hill (chah-pul-teh-PEK): located on the southwest bank of Lake Texcoco. Served as a base of operations for the Mexica.
Chichimecah (chee-chee-MEH-kah): the nomadic peoples of Northern Mexico.
Chicomecoatl (chee-koh-meh-KOH-ah-tul): goddess of agriculture. Wife of Tezcatlipoca.
Chicomoztoc (chee-koh-MOHS-tohk): a series of seven caves used by the Centzon Mimixcoah and the Nahua (Aztec) tribes.
Chimalman (chee-MAL-man): mother of Quetzalpetlatl and Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl.
Chinampa (chee-NAM-pah): a floating garden.
Cihuatlampa (see-waht-LAHM-pa): Western paradise for women who die during childbirth.
Cipactli (see-PAHKT-lee): the primordial reptile that becomes both the earth and the earth goddess.
Cipactonal (see-pahkt-TOH-nahl): the first man, created at the beginning of the First Age.
Citlalatonac (seet-lah-lah-TOH-nahk): god of the stars.
Citlalicue (seet-lah-LEE-kweh): goddess of the stars.
Coatlicue (koh-aht-LEE-kweh): a fierce but loving deity whose nature encompasses the duality of motherhood. Wife of Camaxtli. Mother of Coyolxauhqui, Huitzilopochtli, and the Four Hundred Gods of the South.
Colhuas (KOL-wah): a Nahua tribe that takes the Mexica captive (also Colhuahqueh).
Colhuacan (kol-WAH-kan): the kingdom of the Colhuas (also Colhuahcan).
Copil (KOH-peel): wizard king of Malinalco. Son of Malinalxochitl. From his heart grows a prophesized cactus.
Coxcoxtli (kohsh-KOHSHT-lee): king of Colhuacan who enslaved the Mexica.
Coyolxauhqui (koh-aht-LEE-kweh): a goddess who leads her four hundred brothers in a revolt against their mother, Coatlicue. Dismembered by Huitzilopochtli. Her head is transformed into the moon.
Cuauhcoatl (kwau-KOH-ah-tul): a high priest of the Mexica.
Cuauhtlequetzqui (kwaut-leh-KEHTS-kee): (1) Governor of the Mexica (2) His son, a godbearer who hurls Copil’s heart at the command of Huitzilopochtli.
E
Ehecatl (eh-HEH-kah-tul): god of the wind. An aspect of Quetzalcoatl.
H
Hapunda (hah-POON-dah): Purepecha princess of Yunuen.
Heart of Sky: brother to Feathered Serpent. God of chaos.
Huitziltzin (weet-SEELT-seen): high priest of the Mexica. Avatar of Huitzilopochtli.
Huitzilopochtli (weet-see-loh-POHCHT-lee): god of the war and patron of the Mexica.
Hunahpu (hoo-NAH-poo): one of the Hero Twins.
Hurricane: a name for Heart of Sky in his most destructive form.
I
Ihuimecatl (ee-wee-MEH-kah-tul): an evil priest of Tollan allied with Tezcatlipoca.
Ihuitimal (ee-wee-TEE-mal): king of Tollan before Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl.
Ilancueitl (ee-lahn-KWEH-ee-tul): a priestess who became the Mexica’s first cihuacoatl or counselor to the king.
Itza (EET-sah): the “Water Witches,” a Maya nation.
Itzpapalotl (eets-pah-PAH-loh-tul): patroness of women who died giving birth and children who died in infancy. One of the tzitzimimeh.
Itztacxilotzin (eets-tahk-shee-LOHT-seen): a Toltec queen.
Ixchel (eesh-CHEL): goddess of fertility, childbirth, and war.
Ixmukane (eesh-moo-KAH-neh): a maize goddess, mother of One and Seven Hunahpu.
Iztaccihuatl (eez-tahk-SEE-wah-tul): a Tepanec princess who is transformed into a dormant volcano upon her death.
K
Ku (KOO): divine energy.
Kukulkan (koo-kool-KAHN): a Mayan name for Feathered Serpent.
L
Lady Blood: daughter of Blood Gatherer (one of the Lords of Xibalba) and mother of the Hero Twins, Hunahpu and Xbalanque.
Lady 1 Deer and Lord 1 Deer: creator gods of the Mixteca.
Lady Egret: mother of One Monkey and One Artisan.
M
Malinalco (mah-lee-NAL-koh): kingdom founded by Malinalxochitl.
Malinalxochitl (mah-lee-nal-SHOH-chee-tul): sister of Huitziltzin, a great shaman who led a schism within the Mexica.
Mayab (MAH-yab): land of the Maya people on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Mayahuel (mah-YAH-wel): goddess of the maguey plant. The only tzitzimitl to renounce destruction and join with Quetzalcoatl.
Mecihtli (meh-SEET-lee): Earth Goddess and source of fertility.
Mexica (meh-SHEE-kah): the last Nahuat tribe to emerge from Aztlan. Founders of Mexico Tenochtitlan.
Mexitin (meh-SHEE-teen): original name of the Mexica.
Mexitli Chalchiuhtlatonac (meh-SHEET-lee chal-chee-wut-lah-TOH-nahk): first recorded leader of the Mexica.
Michoacan (meech-wah-KAHN): a seaside kingdom established by Purepecha people and a rogue group of Mexica.
Mictecacihuatl (meek-teh-kah-SEE-wah-tul): goddess of death, queen of the Underworld.
Mictlantecuhtli (meekt-lahn-teh-KWIT-lee): god of death, king of the Underworld.
Mimich (MEE-meech): one of the Centzon Mimixcoah. Helps capture and kill Itzapapalotl.
Mixcoatl (meesh-KOH-ah-tul): another name for Camaxtli.
Mixteca (meesh-TEH-kah): the Cloud People, Nahuatl name for the Ñuu Dzaui of Oaxaca.
N
Nahualli (nah-WAHL-lee): double or animal spirit form.
Nanahuatzin (nah-nah-WAHT-seen): decrepit and old god, covered in pustules. Son of Quetzalcoatl. Becomes the sun at the beginning of the Fifth Age.
Nene: the first woman created in the Fourth Age.
O
Ometeotl (oh-meh-TEH-oh-tul): the dual god from which the universe was formed.
Omeyocan (oh-meh-YOH-kahn): place of duality, abode of Ometeotl.
One Hunahpu (hoo-NAH-poo): a minor god of the milpas, brother of Seven Hunahpu, father of One Monkey and One Artisan as well as the Hero Twins.
One Monkey and One Artisan: gods of the arts.
Oxomoco (oh-shoh-MOH-koh): the first woman created at the beginning of the First Age.
P
Patecatl (pah-TEHK-ah-tul): god of medicine and discoverer of peyote.
Patzcuaro, Lake (PAHTS-kwah-roh): a large, island-dotted lake in Michoacan.
Piltzintecuhtli (peelt-sin-teh-KWIT-lee): son of Oxomoco and Cipactonal.
Popocatepetl (poh-poh-kah-TEH-peh-tul): a volcano in the highlands of Central Mexico.
Popocatzin (poh-poh-KAHT-seen): a Mexica warrior descended from exiled nobles living in Azcapotzalco. Transformed into Popocatepetl.
Q
Quetzalcoatl (quets-al-KWA-tul): Nahuatl name for Feathered Serpent, god of creation and order.
Quetzalpetlatl (quets-al-PET-lah-tul): older half-sister of Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl.
Quilaztli (kee-LAHST-lee): an earth goddess associated with the Mother.
Q’uq’umatz (koo-koo-MAHTS): a Mayan name for Feathered Serpent.
Seven Hunahpu (hoo-NAH-poo): a minor god of the milpas, brother of One Hunahpu.
T
Tabaosimoa (tah-bow-see-MOH-ah): the most respected women and men on earth at the beginning of the Fifth Age.
Tamoanchan (tah-moh-AHN-chahn): Nahuatl name for the home of the gods.
Tata: the first man created in the Fourth Age.
Tecciztecatl (tek-sis-TEH-kah-tul): handsome young god of shell and stone. Son of Tlaloc and Chalchiuhtlicue. Becomes the moon at the beginning of the Fifth Age.
Tenoch (TEN-ohch): led the Mexica out of Colhuacan to establish the city of Tenochtitlan.
Tenochtitlan (teh-nohch-TEET-lan): city founded by the Mexica on an isle in Lake Texcoco.
Teotihuacan (teh-oh-tee-WAH-kahn): city of the gods and its copy on earth.
Teotl (TEH-oh-tul): divine energy.
Tepalcatzin (teh-pal-KAHT-seen): Toltec king who married Xochitl.
Tepanecas (teh-pah-NEH-kah): a tribe of Nahuas.
Tepeyollotl (teh-peh-YOHL-loh-tul): “Mountainheart,” the nahualli or double of Tezcatlipoca. A massive jaguar.
Texcoco, Lake (tesh-KOH-koh): southermost of the lakes in the highlands of Central Mexico.
Tezcatlipoca (tes-kaht-lee-POH-kah): Nahuatl name for the god of chaos. Brother of Feathered Serpent. Also referred to as Heart of Sky and Hurricane. Later incarnated as a priest of Tollan.
Tezozomoc (teh-soh-SOH-mohk)—a Tepanec king with blood ties to many Mexica rulers.
Tlaloc (TLAH-lohk): Nahuatl name for the rain god.
Tlacahuepan (tlah-kah-WEH-pahn): an evil priest of Tollan allied with Tezcatlipoca.
Tlalocan (tlah-LOH-kahn): Tlaloc’s paradise, where the spirits of the drowned, diseased, and deformed go upon death.
Tlaloques (tlah-LOH-kehs): Elemental spirits that serve the rain god.
Tlaltecuhtli (tlahl-TEKW-tlee): “sovereign of the earth,” an epithet of Mecihtli.
Tlatelolco (tlah-teh-LOL-koh): a sister city of Tenochtitlan established after a schism in the Mexica tribe.
Tollan (TOL-lahn): the legendary capital of the Toltec empire
Toltecs (tol-TEHKS): the Toltecah, a mighty people who controlled Central Mexico before the Aztecs.
Toltecayotl (tol-tehk-KAY-yoh-tul): Nahuatl term for master craftsmanship.
Tonacacuahuitl (toh-nah-kah-KWAH-wee-tul): the Mother Tree, source of human souls, which stands at the heart of Omeyocan.
Tonalli: spiritual essence contained in sunlight. The source of a nahualli.
Tonantzin (toh-NAHNT-seen): “Our Revered Mother.” Nahuatl name for the mother goddess.
Tonatiuhchan (toh-nah-TEE-oo-chahn): Eastern paradise of the sun where the souls of brave warriors go after death.
Tzitzimimeh (tseet-see-MEE-meh): an order of goddesses who seek to devour the sun.
X
Xaltocan (shal-TOH-kan): northernmost of the lakes that once dominated the highlands of Central Mexico.
Xbalanque (sh-bah-LAHN-keh): one of the Hero Twins.
Xibalba (shee-ball-BAH): the Mayan name for the Underworld.
Xinantecatl (shee-nan-TEH-kah-tul): a proud and fierce Tepanec warrior from an illustrious family. Rival of Popocatzin.
Xipe Totec (SHEE-peh TOH-tek): god of spring and renewal.
Xiuhtecuhtli (shoo-teh-KWIT-lee): god of time and fire.
Xiuhcoatl (shoo-KOH-ah-tul): nahualli of the God of Fire. Used as a weapon by Huitzilopochtli.
Xiuhtlahcuilolxochitzin (shoot-lah-kwee-loh-shoh-CHEET-seen): a Toltec queen.
Xiuhtlaltzin (shoot-LALT-seen): a Toltec queen.
Xmucane (sh-moo-KAH-neh): a Mayan name for the Grandmother. One of the two oldest gods, source of all others. Corresponds to the Nahuatl Omecihuatl.
Xochiquetzal (shoh-chee-KEHT-sal): goddess of flowers and fertility.
Xochimilco, Lake (shoh-chee-MEEL-koh): smaller lake to the southeast of Texcoco.
Xochitl (SHOH-chee-tul): Toltec queen who discovered pulque,
Xolotl (SHOH-loh-tul): the nahualli of Quetzacoatl. A massive hound that accompanies the sun through the Underworld.
Y
Yaushu (YOW-shoo): the opossum who ruled the world in the early years of the Fifth Age.
Yacoñooy (yah-koh-NYOH-oy): legendary hero of the Mixteca.
Yunuen (yoo-noo-WEN): island on Lake Patzcuaro.