THE AZTEC GODDESS OF THE EARTH 



The famous statue of the Aztec Godde^ss of the Earth calh^l i'oallicuc, "the Serpent-skirted One," 

 is a striking example of barbaric imagination. It was found in Mexico City near the Cathedral in the 

 year 1791. It doubtless occupied an important place in the great ceremonial center of Tenochtillan. 

 the Aztec capital, and probably dates from the last quarter of the 15th century. 



The head, which is the same on front and back, is formed by two repulsive serpent heads meeting 

 face to face. The feet are furnishetl with claws, but the arms, which are doubled up with the elbows 

 close to the sides, end each in a serpent's head. The skirt is a writhing mass of braided rattlesnakes. 

 The creature wears about the neck and hanging down over the breast a necklat^ of human hands and 

 hearts with a death's head pendant in the center, (^.oallicue seems to have been regarded as a very old 

 woman and as llie niollier of the Aztec gcxls 



