Huehueteotl

Huehueteotl (/ˌweɪweɪˈteɪoʊtəl/ WAY-way-TAY-oh-təl; Nahuatl pronunciation: [weːweˈteoːt͡ɬ]) is an ancient Mesoamerican deity who appears in the pantheons of pre-Columbian cultures, especially in Aztec mythology and other cultures of Central Mexico. Alternative spellings include Huehuetéotl and Ueueteotl.

While primarily associated with Central Mexican cultures, Huehueteotl imagery has been discovered at archaeological sites throughout Mesoamerica, including the Gulf region, western Mexico, Protoclassic-era sites in the Guatemalan highlands such as Kaminaljuyú, and Late-Postclassic sites on the northern Yucatán Peninsula (Miller and Taube, 1993:189).

The name Huehueteotl derives from Nahuatl huēhueh [ˈweːweʔ] ("old") and teōtl [ˈteoːt͡ɬ] ("god"). This naming appears to connect the Old God with certain Mayan deities known as Mam ("Grandfather").

Huehueteotl is often considered to overlap with or represent another aspect of Xiuhtecuhtli, a central Mexican/Aztec fire deity. The Florentine Codex specifically identifies Huehueteotl as an alternative name for Xiuhtecuhtli, leading to the compound reference Xiuhtecuhtli-Huehueteotl.

However, these deities display distinct iconographic differences: Huehueteotl is typically depicted as an elderly or frail figure, often with a beard, while Xiuhtecuhtli appears much younger and more dynamic, reflecting his strong associations with rulership and youthful warriors.