Did you think that Thor was the mighty god of thunder? Well, you might wanna think again!
The Aztecs and the most iconic civilization before them dedicated temples to him. He was served by his own assistant deities, known as the Tlaloques. Their sacred duty was to smash clay vessels filled with water, thus releasing rain onto the earth. The sound of those vessels breaking was the thunder people could hear. This mighty character also possessed his own paradise, where he would welcome the souls of the people whose death was related to water—whether by drowning or being hit by a lightning bolt. Tlaloc was his name.
The Aztecs renamed the structures that today we know as Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. However, evidence suggests that these massive, not-to-be-missed buildings were originally meant to be home to Tlaloc and his wife—whose name must be read and pronounced with patience: Chalchiuhtlicue. It translates to something like ‘She of the jade skirt’ or ‘The one whose skirt is made of waves’.
Today, even though most Mexicans are catholic and pre-Columbian religions are rarely practiced or understood, everyone still thinks of Tlaloc during droughts or storms. Just like in the past, if the rain is timely and kind, social media gets flooded with hilarious memes about Tlaloc’s affection for his people. On the other hand, when it causes destruction, news reporters refer to his wrath.
The Aztecs’ most sacred building is considered to have been a double pyramid with two temples on top: one for their god of war and the other for Tlaloc, the god of water. Archaeologists and historians suggest that this was a constant reminder: You were born to be a farmer and a warrior. The remains of Tlaloc’s temple in Mexico City don’t look as fancy as the Pyramid of the Sun, but the spot is just as fascinating.
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