The Tecla Daily Deity The Tecla pantheon is specifically based on the religious systems of ancient Mexico, specifially the systems of the Aztecs and Toltecs. While the Aztec period (circa 14th through 16th centuries) is beyond the time range of Mythus, all the cosmologies of Mexico and Cnetral America are closely related from the 1st millenium B.C.E. onward. At this time the Aztec pantheon is used as a model; is imperial, state-level social organization closely correlates with the structure of the Tecla state, and studies of the Aztec pantheon are more completely docuemente, represented, and understood than other pantheons of theregion atthis time (excluding the Maya). I am currently a graduate student of Anthropology, specializing in the archaeology of Mesoamerica, and recognize some liberties have been taken. This form has been written and utilized for use with Mythus and the "Epic of Aerth", and should not (necessarily) be taken as archaeologically or ethnohistorically accurate. This information is based on the study of the Aztecs by Frances Berdan, The Aztecs of Central Mexico. This form of the Daily Deity is an initial draft. More exact, complete, and revised forms will be available in the future. Questions, comments, suggestions, and requests for more recent drafts should be sent to : barricsa@ucbeh.san.uc.edu. Tecla is a state-level imperial society. Any implications of tribalism or barabarism, as emphasised in the "Epic of Aerth", clearly show the western, Aeuropean biases and limited data recorded by the explorers. Local communites all have patron deities, as do many neighborhoods, which often function similarly to medieval guilds. The official priesthood is closely tied with the noblity and political structure of the state government. Prominent state officials often hold religious title and vice versa. Beyond priestcraeft, the religious officers of the Tecla pantheon also utilize the arts of herbalism, conjuration, green dweomercraeft, and especially astrology. The priests control an intricate system of interlocking, celestial-based, multiple calendars. Closely tied to this practices is deep belief and practice of astrology, divination, and fate. The timing of major warfare is often based n the movements of the planet Venus. Human (usually war captives) and animal sacrifices are common, as is bloodletting. The priests have an extensive mastery of herbalism and the use of psychedelic plants and animals, which are often used in the summoning and communication with spirits and deities. Much like Greco-Roman and Aegyptian pantheons, the Tecla pantheon was developed and followed for a period of over 2000 years, and thus has a myrad of overlapping and confusing deities. Most important deities have a number of aspects, representing male/female and celestial/underworld natures. It is quite possible that diverse cults, worshipping various aspects of these deities exist within each religion. Thus the ethoi and natures stated below can vary depending on the form worshipped. Please note that the sun and rain were worshipped due to the cultures' dependence on agriculture. The use of sacrifice was not believed to be "evil", and death by sacrifice was a honorable, akin to death in warfare or childbirth. The Tecla Pantheon "The Four Hundred Rabbits" balance, benign, chaotic,potencies; children of Mayahuel; devoted to pulque, drunkeness, and pleasure Centeotl sunlight, benign, intermediate, lesser; maize (corn) god Chalchiuhtlicue balance, benign, ordered, great; in various forms the mother, wife, or sister of Tlaloc; Water in all or general forms Chicomecoatl balance, moonlight, agathocacological, lesser; "seven serpent"; youthful, agriultural goddess Cipachtli balance, agathocacological, quai-deity; aligator monster; swims in the primordial sea of the cosmos, upon which the universe rests Coatlicue balance, benign, intermediate, major; mother of Huitlipochtli Ehecatl moonlight, agathocacological, chaotic,major; aspect of Quetzalcoatl, ruler of wind and rain storms Huitzilopochtli (BlueTezcatlipoca) gloomy darkness, agathocacological, ordered, greatest; creator of life and matter; daughter of Lord and Lady of Duality. Patron deity of the Mexica (p128) Mayahuel sunlight, benign, intermediate, major; goddess of maguey (a fibrous plant) Mictlan Place of the Dead Mictlancihuatl shadowy darkness, benign, ordered, lesser; Lady of Mictlan; consort to Mictlantecutli Goddess of the Underworld Mictlantecutli shadowy darkness, agathocacological, ordered, major; Lord of the Underworld; also a god of war and sacrifice (see chapter 4) Mixcoatl-Camaxtli moonlight, malign, chaotic, great; sun and celestial deity; ruled the Milky Way & Venus; god of military and hunting; patron of Tlaxcallans Omechuatl balance, benign, ordered, major; "Lady of Duality" Ometeculti balance, benign, ordered, major; "Lord of Duality" Omeyocan 13th (and final) level of the Heavens; home of the Lord & Lady of Duality Quetzalcoatl (White Tezcatlipoca) sunlight, benign, ordered, greater; "The plumed serpent" creator of life, humanity, & matter; son of Lord and Lady of Duality; benevolent; associated with Venus (p129-130); patron of the arts Teteinnan balance, agathocacological, intermediate, lesser; mother of the gods Tezcatlipoca, (Black) shadowy darkness, agathocacological, chaotic, greater; "Smoking Mirror"; son of Lord and Lady of Duality; creator of fire, omnipotent. Night, jaguar, sorcery, warfare. (p125) capricious; patron of youn warriors The Earth Mother balance, benign, intermediate, great; fertility and repoduction in various forms, patron of physicians and midwives. Also ruled over pleasure, feasting, health, sexual desire, sin, pregancy, childbirth Tlahuizcalpantecutli gloomy darkness, malign, ordered, major; sun and celestial deity; God of Venus; military deity warlike and malevolent Tlalli sunlight, bengin, intermediate, major; heart of the earth, patron of physicians Tlaloc moonlight, benign, ordered, greater; God of Rain. Also the night, jaguar, agriculture, water (p126-7). Associated with water creatures (frogs, serpents) and the underworld. Tlalocan Paradise (afterworld?) of Tlaloc, a place of rain and rampant vegetation beleived to be in the east Tlaloque various, agathocacological, intermediate, potencies; celestial servants of Tlaloc. Associated with individual mountains. Toci shadowy darknesss, agathocacological, chaotic, major; "our grandmother", flaying rites Tonatiuh shadowy darkness, benign, ordered, great; sun god; also warfare, human sacrifice, and death Xipe Totec (Red Tezcatlipoca) shadowy darkness, agathocacological, intermediate, greater; daughter of Lord and Lady of Duality; Fertility God, rites celebrated coming of spring (p127-8), gladatorial sacrifice, flaying rites Xiuhtecutli (also Huehueteotl) balance, benign, chaotic, major; "the Old God"; an ancient fire god. Fire in all its forms, which also respresented enteral life. Celebrated in 52 year fire renewal cycle (p125) Yacatecutli shadowy darkness, benign, chaotic, major; "the Long-Nosed God"; patron of merchants