The hummingbird held great significance for the Aztec people and their mythology. Known as “huitzitzilin” in the Nahuatl language, the hummingbird represented many different concepts and ideas to the Aztecs.
The Hummingbird as a Messenger and Warrior
One of the primary associations of the hummingbird for the Aztecs was as a messenger. The Aztecs believed that deceased warriors were reincarnated as hummingbirds and returned to earth as the messengers of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war and sun. It was thought that hummingbirds carried messages from fallen warriors up to the gods themselves.
Because of this belief, the hummingbird also took on the attributes of a warrior for the Aztecs. They were seen as tenacious, aggressive, and willing to take on opponents larger than themselves – similar to the ideal Aztec warrior. Aztec warriors would wear the feathers of hummingbirds into battle to take on the bird’s warrior spirit.
The hummingbird’s tendency to buzz around the head of perceived threats also reminded the Aztecs of the tactics warriors would use in battle. Darting from side to side, a hummingbird will face down animals and humans who approach their nests, similar to how an Aztec warrior would attack the enemy.
Connections to Nature and Fertility
In addition to being seen as a messenger and warrior, the Aztecs also viewed the hummingbird as a representation of vigor, energy, and vitality. The rapid speed with which hummingbirds flap their wings – up to 200 times per second in some species – embodied the energetic essence of living things to the Aztecs.
The hummingbird’s association with flowers and nectar also connected it to fertility and romance in Aztec mythology. Hummingbirds begin their courtship rituals in spring when flowers begin to bloom. The Aztec god of fertility, Xochipilli, was sometimes depicted with hummingbirds dancing around him.
The Aztec rain god, Tlaloc, was also associated with hummingbirds. Hummingbirds seem to dance and dart through misty rain with ease, feeding even in stormy weather. The rain that supports their flowers connects the hummingbird to the cycle of rains overseen by Tlaloc.
Jewelry and Art
The majesty of the hummingbird led the Aztecs to incorporate it into their art and jewelry. Nobles and rulers would adorn themselves with the feathers of hummingbirds, either as headdresses or accessories. Jewelry depicting hummingbirds was also popular, usually made of gold or jade.
In addition to their feathers and depictions in jewelry, hummingbirds featured prominently in Aztec visual art. They were often depicted hovering around flowers or drinking nectar from flowers in colorful illustrations.
The God of the Sun and War
The Aztec sun god, Huitzilopochtli, is closely associated with the hummingbird. As a patron of warriors who required human sacrifice, Huitzilopochtli represented the violent struggle at the heart of the Aztec empire as well as the sustaining power of the sun.
Legend states that Huitzilopochtli’s mother, Coatlicue, became miraculously pregnant after a ball of hummingbird feathers fell on her from the sky. The other gods, afraid of the power of the unborn deity, sent Coyolxauhqui, the goddess of the moon, to kill Coatlicue. But Huitzilopochtli burst forth from his mother’s womb fully grown and armored and killed the attacking moon goddess.
Huitzilopochtli’s signature weapon was the serpent of fire and his temple on the great pyramid of Tenochtitlan was decorated with hummingbird imagery. Under Huitzilopochtli the Aztec empire expanded and subjugated neighboring groups to acquire human sacrifices to sustain the god.
Legends and Myths
The legend of Huitzilopochtli’s origin story is one of many Aztec tales involving hummingbirds. Other legends state that deceased Aztec warriors would return to earth as hummingbirds after their death. These mythic hummingbird-warriors acted as messengers bringing news of the afterlife to grieving widows.
One legend tells of a vain Aztec lord too fond of a particular turquoise mosaic mask. After sending a servant to fetch the mask so he could gaze upon it once more, the lord demanded the mask be brought closer and closer until he toppled into a fire pit and burned to death. The Aztecs believed the lord returned as a long-nosed hummingbird condemned to hover precariously over fires and volcanoes as punishment.
Yet another legend highlights the hummingbird’s role as a symbol of amorousness in Aztec culture. In this tale, a huntsman pursues a beautiful maiden but cannot gain her favor. After being denied repeatedly, the huntsman transforms into the Hummingbird of Love and is finally able to uses his nimble flying to defeat his rivals and win the maiden’s heart.
Importance of Hummingbird Conservation Today
While the legends of the Aztecs may seem fanciful and distant, the importance of the natural hummingbird remains. There are over 300 species of hummingbirds in the Americas today that pollinate flowers and retain a sense of miraculousness in the modern world.
However, habitat destruction and climate change threaten many hummingbird populations. Preserving plants that provide nectar and developing sustainable gardening and agriculture practices can help restore hummingbird habitats.
The Aztecs revered the remarkable attributes of the hummingbird centuries ago, but it remains just as dazzling today. Protecting the habitats and respecting the spiritual significance of animals like the hummingbird allows modern people to retain a sense of wonder inherited from ancient cultures.
Conclusion
For the Aztec civilization, the hummingbird was a multifaceted creature that embodied concepts like vigor, valor, and love while also retaining its distinctive natural mystique. The continued presence of hummingbirds in the ecosystem further emphasizes the importance Aztec culture placed on respecting nature and its cycles.
While Aztec civilization is no more, the hummingbird endures and remains an object of fascination. Protecting hummingbirds and treasuring indigenous cultural views towards nature remain relevant lessons from the Aztecs. Their mythology imparts a unique outlook on the world that can enrich modern society.
