Coyolxauhqui

Coyolxauhqui is the name of a goddess in ancient Mesoamerican mythology. She was believed to be the sister of the powerful god Huitzilopochtli.

Legend has it that Coyolxauhqui and her brothers plotted to kill their mother, Coatlicue, because they didn't believe she should have become pregnant with Huitzilopochtli. However, when Huitzilopochtli was born, he emerged fully grown and armed, and he fought and defeated his siblings, including Coyolxauhqui.

After his victory, Huitzilopochtli chopped off Coyolxauhqui's head and threw it to the bottom of a mountain. Her dismembered body was left on the mountaintop as a warning to other would-be rebels.

Coyolxauhqui is often depicted with a shield adorned with a crescent moon, and she was associated with the moon and the night. Her name comes from the Nahuatl language, and it roughly translates to "painted with bells," which may refer to the tinkling noises her jewelry made as she moved.

Today, Coyolxauhqui remains an important figure in Mexican and Indigenous cultures, and she is often seen as a symbol of resistance and strength.