Editing Xolotl (section)

== Origin ==
[[File:Xolotl, Codex Borgia page 38.jpg|thumb|left|[[Codex Borgia]] (p. 38) Xolotl with [[Xiuhcoatl]] "Fire Serpent"]]
Xolotl is sometimes depicted carrying a torch in the surviving [[Maya codices]], which reference the Maya tradition that the dog brought fire to mankind.<ref>{{harvnb|Neumann| 1975 |p=19}}</ref> In the Mayan codices, the dog is conspicuously associated with the god of death, storm, and lightning.<ref>{{harvnb|Johnson |1994 |p= 118}}</ref> Xolotl appears to have affinities with the [[Zapotec civilization|Zapotec]] and [[Maya civilization|Maya]] lightning-dog, and may represent the lightning which descends from the [[thundercloud]], the flash, the reflection of which arouses the misconceived belief that lightning is "double", and leads them to suppose a connection between lightning and twins.<ref name="Spence 2015 p. 276">{{harvnb|Spence| 2015 |p= 276}}</ref>

Xolotl originated in the southern regions, and may represent fire rushing down from the heavens or light flaming up in the heavens.<ref>{{harvnb|Seler |2010 |p= 65}}</ref> Xolotl was originally the name for lightning beast of the Maya tribe, often taking the form of a dog.<ref name="Seler 2010 p. 94"/> The dog plays an important role in Maya manuscripts. He is the lightning beast, who darts from heaven with a torch in his hand.<ref>{{harvnb|Seler |2010 |p=45}}</ref> Xolotl is represented directly as a dog, and is distinguished as the deity of air and of the four directions of the wind by Quetzalcoatl's breast ornament. Xolotl is to be considered equivalent to the beast darting from heaven of the Maya manuscript.<ref>{{harvnb|Seler |2010 |p=46}}</ref> The dog is the animal of the dead and therefore of the Place of Shadows.<ref name="Spence 2015 p. 276"/>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px" class="center">
File:Förstemann Dresden Codex Fire Dog (p.6).jpg|[[Dresden Codex]] Dog (p.&nbsp;7)
File:Förstemann Dresden Codex Fire Dog (p.68).jpg| Dog (p.&nbsp;39)
File:Förstemann Dresden Codex Fire Dog (p.69).jpg| Dog (p.&nbsp;40)
</gallery>