Vitziliputzili ou Viztliputztli

A 17th-century depiction of the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli.

This intriguing view presents a Europeanized version of the important Aztec god Huitzilopochtli. According to the Denver Art Museum;

“Huitzilopochtli is shown with bat wings, the lower body of a satyr, and a demonic face in his torso. He stands on a stepped plinth decorated with images of weapons and ornamented with the serpent-headed poles typically associated with the deity (though they appear more lupine here).

His serpent staff (xiuhcoatl) has been rendered here as a striped pole, and he holds a laurel branch in his right hand, more evocative of Roman than Mexica deities. A crowd of exotically costumed worshippers fills the enormous temple space surrounding the immense statue of the deity.”

The image is largely a simplified version of an earlier iteration by Arnoldus Montanus and John Ogilby. It was originally published in 1683 in Paris as part of Alain Manesson Mallet’s monumental Description de l’Univers – one of the most influential works of the 17th century. French text on the verso recounts Columbus’ discovery of Cuba in 1492.

Source: Denver Art Museum;