The Birth of Huitzilopochtli

Coatlicue, the earth goddess with her skirt of serpents and necklace of skulls, swept the temple atop Coatepec—Serpent Mountain. As she worked, a ball of feathers drifted down from the sky. She tucked it into her waistband, and when she looked for it later, it was gone. She had become pregnant.

Her daughter Coyolxauhqui, goddess of the moon, was outraged. "Our mother has dishonored us!" she cried to her four hundred brothers, the Centzon Huitznahua—the stars of the southern sky. "We must kill her!"

They armed themselves and marched up Coatepec. Coatlicue trembled in fear, but a voice spoke from her womb: "Do not be afraid, Mother. I know what I must do."

As Coyolxauhqui reached the summit, ready to strike, Huitzilopochtli burst from Coatlicue's womb. He emerged fully grown, painted for war, wielding Xiuhcoatl—the fire serpent. In a single blow, he decapitated Coyolxauhqui. Her body tumbled down the mountain, breaking apart as it fell.

Huitzilopochtli then pursued his four hundred brothers across the sky, slaying them until the survivors fled. Each day, he is reborn with the sun and defeats the stars and moon, ensuring light triumphs over darkness.

This is why the Aztecs fed Huitzilopochtli with the hearts of warriors—to strengthen him for his eternal battle.