Itzpapalotl
Itzpapalotl is the Obsidian Butterfly or Clawed Butterfly, the Feminine Warrior.
Itzpapalotl stands for purfication or rejuvenation by sacrifice of that what is precious.
Itzpapalotl is often depicted as a skeletal being with jaguar claws and wings edged by obsidian knifes.
She is one of the
Tzitzimime,
the powerful and dangerous star daemons.
With other female deities like the
Cihuateteo
,
Tlaltecuhtli
,
Coatlicue
,
Citlalicue
and
Cihuacoatl
, the Tzitzimime are protectors of midwives and women in labor.
Itzpapalotl rules over
Tamoachan, the heaven where the gods created the human race.
Tamoachan is the home for the victims of infant mortality. Here grows the Suckling Tree which bears 400,000 nipples.
In this place the children can comfortably regain strength for re-incarnation.
In the tonalpohualli, Itzpapalotl rules over day Cozcacuauhtli (knife) and over trecena 1-Calli (house).