Chicomecoatl
This ceramic vase shows an image of Chicomecoatl, the goddess of ripe corn and of maintenance in general, and is decorated in a Cholula polychrome style. She is characteristically depicted as attired in red with corn cobs in her hands. The cover of the vase shows Tlaloc, god of the rain, pouring water.
The vase contained numerous stone objects: over three thousand beads, figurines and a mask covering them, which presumably surround the vase. It dates to 1469-1481 AD.
Chicomecóatl (in Nahuatl: chicomecoatl ‘seven serpent’ ‘chicome, seven; coatl serpent’) was the Mexica goddess of subsistence, especially of corn, the main patron of vegetation and, by extension, also goddess of fertility. Chicomecóatl was the feminine part of Centéotl. She could also be called Xilonen (‘the hairy one’), referring to the beards of the corn in pods, she was considered “young mother of the jilote [young corn]”, thus she was protective of one of the phases of the maize cycle. Xilonen could also be called Centeocíhatl and was married to Tezcatlipoca. Another form associated with Chicomecoatl is Ilamatecuhtli (‘dignitary old woman’, ‘old lady love’) the ripe ear, covered by wrinkled and yellowish leaves.
The cult of Chicomecóatl, especially during the Middle Cultural Period, centered on the Huei Tozoztli ("Long Fast") month, which is situated in September. Then the altars of the houses were adorned with corn plants and in the temples their seeds were blessed, while a beheaded young woman who represented the goddess was offered in sacrifice, whose blood was poured on a statue of Chicomecóatl, while with her skin, once flayed, was dressed by a priest. 2 On the other hand, Xilonen also received human sacrifices on June 24 to get an abundant harvest.
Wikipedia....
