The Most Powerful Aztec God had the Hummingbird as his Spirit Animal

By | November 14, 2018

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When you think of fierce, strong, noble animals…ones that would be a perfect symbol of the supreme power wielded by an all-mighty Aztec god, you would probably consider a vicious bear, dangerous alligator, or regal jaguar. But for Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of the sun and war, the most powerful god in the Aztec mythology, the fiercest, mightiest spirit animal he could attach to was a surprise contender…the diminutive hummingbird. 

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Huitzilopochtli Means “Hummingbird of the South”

The name of the powerful Aztec god that lorded over war, gold, the Sun and battle was named Huitzilopochtli, which literally translates to “hummingbird of the south.” He was the patron of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec culture. Although he was the supreme deity and no other god equaled him in power and prestige, he was said to be the brother of the other great gods of Mesoamerica, including Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god.