XOLOTL
Aztec Underworld God
Also known as Xólotl
Aztec God of Lightning and dead-good Underworld guide
The dark and not-nearly-so-handsome brother of Quetzalcoatl, he has a rather important task — he guides the dead to Mictlan, the Aztec Underworld.
Finding yourself deceased is no fun. What are you supposed to do? Where do you go? It’s so confusing and no-one ever tells you anything. The last thing you need is a lack of direction.
Xolotl to the rescue. He can be seen in the evening sky as Venus, so just follow the Evening Star. And if you get stuck, watch out for his helpful lightning strikes. Two zaps to the left, a bolt to the right and straight on till you hit Hell.
From up there he also lends a hand to help the Sun on its arduous journey through the Underworld every night.
Despite all these good deeds, XOLOTL is dogged by deformity — he has a hound’s head. A particularly ugly one too. Also, the feet on his skeletal body run backwards so he finds it difficult to know if he is coming or going.
Normally Quetzalcoatl gets all the fame and glory, but we think his lesser-known sibling Xolotl deserves a break. Next time you see the Evening Star, give him a cheery wave. After all, you’ll be needing him when you’re dead.
Xolotl Facts and Figures
Name: Xolotl
Pronunciation: Coming soon
Alternative names: Xólotl
Gender: Male
Type: God
Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present
Role:
In charge of: the Underworld
Area of expertise: Underworld
Associated with: Venus
Good/Evil Rating: GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index: 8576
Cite this article
Here's the info you need to cite this page. Just copy the text in the box below.
Article last revised on August 10, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders
References: Coming soon.