30 May 2025 / 10 House
Article suitable for older students
Find out moreThe tongue hanging out in Aztec art
Blood streaming from the tongue of Tlaltecuhtli, Aztec (Mexica) god(dess) of the earth, stone sculpture in the Templo Mayor Museum, Mexico City
ORIGINAL QUESTION received from - and thanks to - Omar Sanchez: In most Aztec artwork I noticed most (if not all) animals and gods have their tongues out. What did that mean to them? (Answered by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)
In fact, if you browse through an anthology of Mexica art such as Aztec Art by Esther Pasztory, which includes examples from stone sculptures, codex pages, mosaics, featherwork, ceramics, jewellery, monolithic monuments and much more, you find the number of images in which the tongue is sticking out of the mouth to be a very small minority. The exceptions are dramatic ones, however: the tongue (and obsidian blade) in the centre of the Sunstone, images of the face of Tlaltecuhtli (earth deity), Xipe Totec (‘The Flayed One’) in the Tovar Calendar...
Tlaltecuhtli was commonly depicted by the Aztecs with his/her tongue out as a sign of his/her thirst for human blood - the archetypal Mexica deity that could both nourish life and take it away - and of course many now believe that it is Tlaltecuhtli’s face that is shown in the centre of the Sunstone. What comes from the deity’s mouth, in the great stone monolith discovered only recently in central Mexico City (and now on display in the Templo Mayor Museum - photo above), is more than just a tongue - it is a steady flow of blood, ‘a powerful visual representation of Tlaltecuhtli’s devouring role, and a symbol of the divine link between human sacrifice and providing sustenance [food] to the Aztecs’ gods.’ Learn more from the link below...
Photo by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore
Comments (6)
EJM
27th Dec 2015
Tlaltecuhtli represents a masculine aspect of the earth’s essence, so it is absurd to refer to “his/her thirst for human blood.” The earth nourishes us and we return to it in death (metaphorically devoured.) It’s time to get past the outdated misinformation regarding Aztec human sacrifice. Spewing blood from the mouth is life, vitality. The earth gives life... it does not eat humans and let blood drip out. Also, as @cosca said, the tecpatl or flint as a tongue represents words, the sharpness with which they can cut; the sparks/fire they can produce. It is all metaphor.
Mexicolore
Thanks for putting a welcome new perspective on this - much appreciated.
bobo Brown
23rd Feb 2014
The Tlinket culture sometimes display a wolf with it’s tongue hanging out to the side in their sacred symbols. It stands for wealth. When you kill a wolf, it’s big tongue just hangs out it’s mouth when it’s dead. Then you sell the furs & get wealthy.
Grace Sesma
4th Sep 2013
@Cosca Cuahtli: this is how the imagery was explained by elders Tata Kachora and Maestro Tlakaelel. @Mexicolore: thank you for helping helping us In Ixtli, In Yollotl
cosca cuahtli
10th Dec 2012
my understanding is that tlatecuhtli is actually a representation of man and in each of us there is a guide. on the sun stone it faces up looking towards the grand universe. the place where our creative energy will return one day. The tecpatl which is his flintstone tongue is symbolic for the fire that words carry... Hope this gives a better understanding of my culture and its oral tradition.
Mexicolore
Thanks for this very meaningful interpretation.
Bob Cox
29th Sep 2012
The Aztec calendar was on display at the Zocalo for many years before it was moved to the Anthrpological Museum. During the Mexican American wars , American soldiers occupyinf forces would take pot shots at it to amuse themslves, thus damaging it.
Katia H
9th Jul 2012
That’s a good observation. Do all beings that thirst for human blood tend to be depicted with their tongues out? Thinking over Mexica art I’ve seen, dangerous animals like snakes, wolves, and jaguars have protruding tongues. You could say these animals thirst for human blood since they can harm humans.
Blood streaming from the tongue of Tlaltecuhtli, Aztec (Mexica) god(dess) of the earth, stone sculpture in the Templo Mayor Museum, Mexico City
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