Mayahuel
Mayahuel, the female deity associated with the maguey plant, was a prominent figure in Aztec mythology. As the personification of this versatile plant, she was connected to concepts of fertility, nourishment, and maternal power.
Residence: the volcano Popocatépetl
Parents: Omecihuatl (Emerged by Tecpatl)
Consort: Patecatl
Siblings: the Nauhtzonteteo
Children: Centzon Tōtōchtin
The maguey plant, a species of agave native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States, held significant cultural importance for the Aztecs. Depictions of Mayahuel in the Codex Borgia and Codex Borbonicus show her perched atop a maguey plant, suggesting a deep connection between the deity and the plant. The use of the same blue pigment to represent both Mayahuel and the maguey plant in the Codex Borbonicus further emphasizes their unity.
The maguey plant provided numerous products for the Aztecs, including rope, netting, bags, and cloth. Its thorns were used in ritual bloodletting ceremonies. However, perhaps the most celebrated product was pulque, an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant. Pulque played a vital role in Aztec culture, featuring prominently in public ceremonies and other ritual occasions.
Art
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 