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Aztec Calendar > Gods and deities > Huehuecoyotl


Codex Borgia

Huehuecoyotl, the Old Coyote, also known as the Ancient Drum. He is a trickster, capable of reversals and pranks, often cruel ones. Huehuecoyotl is also a god of storytelling, music, dance and merriment. Further, he is the patron of uninhibited sexuality - his partners can be female or male of any species.

Huehuecoyotl's tricks are often played on other gods but frequently backfire and cause more trouble for himself than the intended victims. He is a great party-giver, but also alleged to foment wars between humans to relieve his boredom.

He is related to Tezcatlipoca family of gods. Like Tezcatlipoca, he is a frequent shape-shifter, capable of transforming himself into another animal or human at whim and unpredictably.
Those who have indications of evil fates from the gods can appeal to Huehuecoyotl to mitigate or reverse their fate.

In the tonalpohualli, Huehuecoyotl is both the ruler of the fourth day, Cuetzpalin (lizard), and the fourth trecena, 1-Xochitl (flower).
