The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

IN AMERICA. 195
of the air; Mictlancihautl, the goddess of hell ; Tlalocteutli,
who corresponded with Neptune, and Ixcuina, with
Venus. 15 To Vitzliputzli was ascribed the renovation of
the world ; and his name was deemed ineffable, and referred
to the principal luminary, the Sun. He was said
to be the offspring of a virgin, who was impregnated by
a Plume of Feathers which descended from heaven into
her bosom invested with all the colours of the Rainbow. 16
Hence a Rainbow with a serpent attached to each end of
it was a Mexican symbol, 17 and referred to the two
parents of the human race who were miraculously preserved
from the effects of the Deluge by the intervention
of Serpents. Vitzliputzli was represented in his temple
by the figure of a man, whose countenance was disfigured
by
certain black lines drawn across his forehead and nose.
He was seated on a globe, 18 which was a symbol of his
universal power, over a lofty altar, which was borne in
procession during the celebration of the mysteries, supported
on four long poles, each end of which was orna-
mented with a serpent's head. 19 His right hand grasped
a snake, and his left a buckler with arrows ; all charged
with emblematical devices, each of which conveyed some
mysterious signification, and inculcated some useful
lesson upon the initiated. 20
The office of Tescalipuca was to punish the sins of men
by the infliction of plague ; famine and pestilence, disease
and death. He was represented as a black man with a
the creation of the world, (I follow the vague chronology of Rios,)
a great famine prevailed in the province of Culan. The saint had
chosen his place of retirement near Tlaxapuchicalo on the volcano
Catcitapetl, (Speaking mountain,) where he walked barefoot on agave
leaves armed with prickles. He finally disappeared at the mouth of
the river Goasacoalco, after having declared, to the Cholulans that
he would return in a short time to govern them again and renew their
happiness." (Humb. Res., vol. i., p. 92.)
15 Codex Borgianus MSS., fo. 73, apud Huinb. Res., vol. i., p. 228.
16
Clavigero. Mexico.
17 Purch. Pilg., b. ix., c. 12.
18 Mr. Faber thinks that the globe on which this go*d was said to be
seated, was in reality no other than the calix ofthe lotos, and the deity
himself was the triplicated great father, or Noah. (Fab. Pag Idol.,
vol. ii., p. 316.)
19 The temples of Mexico were replete with representations of this
reptile ; particularly of the amphisbsena, or mysterious serpent with
two heads. (Humb. Res., vol. i., p. 131.)
30 Purch. Pilg., b. viii., c. 11.