Editing Mixcoatl (section)

==Mythology==
Mixcoatl was one of four children of [[Tonacatecutli]], meaning "Lord of Sustenance," an aged creator god, and [[Cihuacoatl (goddess)|Cihuacoatl]], a fertility goddess and the patroness of midwives. Sometimes Mixcoatl was worshipped as the "Red" aspect of the god [[Tezcatlipoca]], the  "Smoking Mirror," who was the god of sorcerers, rulers, and warriors. In one story, Tezcatlipoca transformed himself into Mixcoatl and invented the fire drill by revolving the heavens around their axes, bringing fire to humanity. Along with this cosmic fire drill, Mixcoatl was the first to strike fire with flint. These events made Mixcoatl a god of the Milky Way, along with war, and the hunt.

Mixcoatl was the father of 400 sons, collectively known as the [[Centzon Huitznahua]], who ended up having their hearts eaten by [[Huitzilopochtli]]. The Centzon Huitznahua met their demise when they, and their sister [[Coyolxauhqui]], after finding their mother [[Coatlicue]] pregnant, conspired to kill her. However, as they attacked she gave birth to a fully formed and armed Huitzilopochtli, who proceeded to kill his half-siblings. Mixcoatl was also related to 400 more gods, the [[Centzonmimixcoa]], whom, together with his 3 brothers (all different from the ones named above) and their sister, he slew by ambush. Mixcoatl was also thought of as being the father of another important deity, [[Quetzalcoatl]], the feathered serpent.

Quetzalcoatl's father Mixcoatl was murdered; Quetzalcoatl was informed by Cozcaquauhtli that "the uncles who had killed his father were Apanecatl, Zolton, and Cuilton."<ref>''Manuscript of 1558'', section VIII, in:- Miguel León-Portilla & Earl Shorris : ''In the Language of Kings''. Norton & Co., 2001. p. 62</ref>

The Codex Mendieta gives Mixcoatl six giant children, counted among the [[Quinametzin]]:{{blockquote|Surrounded the Earth by the seas and submerged in them for a long time, the old frog, with a thousand jaws and bloody tongues, and the strange name it takes, [[Tlaltecuhtli]]; Iztac-[[Mixcoatl]], the fierce white cloud serpent, who lives in Citlalco, joins her in sweet collusion. And six tlacame with love engender; the six brothers on earth dwell and are the trunk of various races: the first-born, the giant [[Xelhua]], of Itzocan and Epatlan, and Cuauquechollan, the cities he founded. [[Tenoch]], the great Aztec claudillo, in Mexico stops the march of his people, and builds the great [[Tenochtitlan]], a lake city. The strong Cuetlachoapan founds [[Ulmecatl]], and gives its indolent people a seat. On the shores of the gulf, [[Xicalancatl]], the brave [[Mixtecatl]] takes refuge. Of Mixtecapan in the sour lands; [[Otomitl]], the xocoyotl [<i>younger son</i>], always lives in mountains near Mexico, and there it thrives in rich populations such as Tollan, Xilotepec and Otompan<ref name="oliver">{{cite book|author=Guilhem Olivier|title=Cacería, Sacrificio y Poder en Mesoamérica: Tras las Huellas de Mixcóatl|url=|date=2015|publisher=Fondo de Cultura Económica|isbn=978-607-16-3216-6|language=spanish}}</ref>|Gerónimo de Mendieta (1525–1604)}}
[[Image:MixcoacMetroBellasArtes.JPG|thumb|right|Replica of statue of Mixcoac as displayed in [[Metro Bellas Artes]] in [[Mexico City]]. The accompanying plaque translates as" SCULPTURE OF MIXCOAC - [[Mexica]]-[[Huasteca]] culture - [[Mesoamerica#Postclassic|Late Post-Classic Period]] - Description: sculpture with the image of Mixcoatl, patron of the hunt and one of the most important gods of war in ancient Mexico. He is considered to be the father of [[Quetzalcoatl]]. Original is in the [[Castle of Teayo]], [[Veracruz]]"]]