Ometeotl, God of Duality in Aztec Religion

Ometeotl aztec god

Brantz Mayer/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

 

Ometeotl, an Aztec god, was thought of as being simultaneously male and female, with the names Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. Neither were much represented in Aztec art, though, perhaps in part because they could be conceived more like abstract concepts than anthropomorphic beings. They represented the creative energy or essence from which the power of all other gods flowed. They existed above and beyond all the cares of the world, with no interest in what actually happens.

Names and Meanings

  • Ometeotl - "Two God," "Lord Two"
  • Citlatonac
  • Ometecuhtli (male form)
  • Omecihuatl (female form)

God Of...

  • Duality
  • Souls
  • Heaven (Omeyocan, "Place of Duality")

 Equivalents in Other Cultures

Hunab Ku, Itzamna in Mayan mythology 

Story and Origin

As simultaneous opposites, male and female, Ometeotl represented for Aztecs the idea that the entire universe was composed of polar opposites: light and dark, night and day, order and chaos, etc. In fact, the Aztecs believed that Ometeotl was the very first god, a self-created being whose very essence and nature became the basis for the nature of the entire universe itself.

Temples, Worship, and Rituals

There were no temples dedicated to Ometeotl or any active cults that worshipped Ometeotl through regular rituals. It appears, however, that Ometeotl was addressed in regular prayers of individuals.

Mythology and Legends

Ometeotl is the bisexual god of duality in Mesoamerican culture.

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Your Citation
Cline, Austin. "Ometeotl, God of Duality in Aztec Religion." Learn Religions, Sep. 16, 2021, learnreligions.com/ometeotl-aztec-god-of-duality-248590. Cline, Austin. (2021, September 16). Ometeotl, God of Duality in Aztec Religion. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/ometeotl-aztec-god-of-duality-248590 Cline, Austin. "Ometeotl, God of Duality in Aztec Religion." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/ometeotl-aztec-god-of-duality-248590 (accessed March 19, 2024).