The Old Fire God and his Symbolism at Teotihuacan

Research on Teotihuacan reveals that the ancient city's worship of the fire god, Huehueteotl, was intricately linked to rain deities, forming a complex ritual symbolism. While anthropomorphic representations of Huehueteotl are rare, graphic signs and symbols associated with him were prevalent in Teotihuacan's art. The study identifies a composite sign—the group of the four elements—and suggests it may represent an early attempt at mnemonic prayer formulas, indicating the development of a partial writing system. Despite the later prominence of rain deity imagery, Huehueteotl's significance persisted, though its understanding was obscured due to symbolic misinterpretation. The research re-evaluates these symbols through iconographic analysis and manuscript interpretations.

Winning, H. V. (1977). The Old Fire God and his Symbolism at Teotihuacan. INDIANA, Bd. 4 (1977). https://doi.org/10.18441/IND.V4I0.7-61