Tlaloc

Mexico

I am Tlaloc, the God of Rain. From North to South, from East to West, I am the one who commands the clouds and decides what will be wet and what will be dry. The Aztecs consider me equal to Huitzilopochtli, the Sun God, for I am as necessary as he is to the fertility of the soil.

I dwell at the top of the mountains with my wife, the Goddess of Storms and Water. Under my orders, many lesser gods, the Tlaloques, distribute the rains that make plants grow and the hurricanes that destroy crops. People thank me for my benefits, while fearing my anger. They offer me their prayers and hold ceremonies in my honor all year long to ward off my rage and earn my help.

  • What do the two rings around my eyes suggest to you?

  • Can you guess what substance I am made of?

  • How would you describe what is on top of my head to someone who has not seen it?

Tlaloc
Latin America, Mexico
Late 19th-early 20th century
Volcanic rock
17.2 x 7.8 x 6.5 in
© quai Branly Museum,
photo by Daniel Ponsard