Tlaloc was the god of rain, agriculture and fertility in the Aztec/Mixtec pantheon of gods. He was considered responsible for rains, floods, lightning, drownings, and some specific diseases, like leprosy. As with many major gods in the Aztec pantheon, Tlaloc was worshipped violently in the form of human sacrifices. On a smaller scale, he and other gods were worshipped through incense burning. Incensarios like this piece were constructed as tall, hollow tubes modeled with the figures or heads of gods, and sometimes placed one on top of the other like Alaskan totem poles. Similar pieces have been found along the western coast of Mexico from Colima to Oaxaca.

The Mixtec were a Pre-Columbian people located in southwestern Mexico in the modern state of Oaxaca. They rose to power by capturing many of the more important sites held formerly by the Zapotec, and Mixtec art clearly shows some Zapotec influence as a result. The Mixtec were conquered by the Aztec about 30 years prior to the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico, yet they were better able to resist the Spanish than the Aztec were. It took the conquistadors several years to fully subdue the region under Pedro de Alvarado. Several hundred thousand ethnic Mixtec still live in Oaxaca and surrounding states today, and the Mixtec language is still widely spoken along with Spanish.

AGE: Late 1400's A.D.

CONDITION: Typical for the type; repaired from 5-6 large pieces with several restorations, particularly to the ears/handles and the nose. Still, entirely intact and very impressive.