Tezcatlipoca
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In Nahuatl mythology, Tezcatlipoca ("smoking mirror") was the god of the night, the north, temptation, beauty and war. He owned a mirror (Itlachiayaque - "Place From Which He Watches") that gave off smoke, killing his enemies. He was the antithesis, rival, and eventually the twin of Quetzalcoatl.
Attributes of both Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl originally came from pre-Aztec traditions of the Olmecs and the Toltecs. The Aztecs assimilated them in their religion, and the two deities were equated and considered twin gods. They were both equal and opposed. Thus Tezcatlipoca was called "Black Tezcatlipoca", and Quetzalcoatl "White Tezcatlipoca". Mixcoatl was sometimes added to this complex as "Red Tezcatlipoca." Omacatl, Titlacahuan and Tezcatlanextia were also considered aspects of Tezcatlipoca.
Mythology
In one of the Aztec accounts of creation, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca joined forces to create the world. Before their act there was only the sea and the monstress of earth, Cipactli. To attract her, Tezcatlipoca used his foot as bait, and Cipactli ate it. The two gods then captured her, and distorted her to make the land from her body. After that, they created the people, and people had to offer sacrifices to comfort Cipactli for her sufferings. Because of this, Tezcatlipoca is depicted with a missing foot, and the bone of his leg exposed.
After the world had been created, Tezcatlipoca kidnapped Xochiquetzal, the goddess of flowers, because he felt that he deserved her more than her husband, Tlaloc. He was also said to be married to Xilonen.
As Mixcoatl, Tezcatlipoca invented fire by rotating the heavens on its axis as a drill.
Pop Culture
Tezcatlipoca plays a major part in the story of the PC adventure game Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror.
Tezcatlipoca is also present in the independent comic El Muerto.
Tezcatlipoca was believed to be a former Mayan ruler of alien origin who came to Earth years ago, according to the Spriggan storyline. He defeated a reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl, who took the form of a stone being.
Tezcatlipoca is also the name of the "Jungle God" in the PC game Hitman: Codename 47.
Tezcatlipoca in DC Comics is the enemy the superhero Aztek trained his whole life to defeat. It was ultimately revealed to be the vast weapon known as Mageddon in the pages of JLA. (Both written by Grant Morrison)de:Tezcatlipoca es:Tezcatlipoca fr:Tezcatlipoca it:Tezcatlipoca ja:テスカトリポカ pl:Tezcatlipoca pt:Tezcatlipoca ru:Тескатлипока sv:Tezcatlipoca