Aztec Stone Toci Figure
Intricate Details and Artistic Narrative of this
Aztec Toci Figure
Explore this exquisite Aztec stone figure of Toci. This finely sculpted votive piece captures Toci in an unusual standing position. The details of her intricate facial features are crisp and beautifully executed. Adorned with rosette-styled earplugs, surrounded by her long, simple, straight, parted coiffure. She also wears a traditional Aztec skirt garment and footwear. This ancient artifact shows the goddess tenderly embracing her life-giving abdomen and would have been placed on top of an altar. This stone offering is 5.5″ in height.
Condition is Choice.
Provenance: Ex – T. Tomaszek, Blackstone, MA. Acquired 1970’s
In the heart of the ancient Aztec civilization, the sun’s golden rays lit up the verdant landscapes, illuminating the revered deity known as Toci, the Grandmother Goddess. Her name, “Our Grandmother,” echoed through Aztec mythology, embodying profound reverence for her role as the protector and nurturer of all life.
The mists of time cloaked Toci’s origins, intertwining her existence with the very fabric of the Aztec cosmos. The Aztecs believed she emerged from the primordial waters, a fundamental force that gave birth to all creation. As the Grandmother Goddess, she presided over healing and childbirth, her gentle touch bringing solace to the sick and joy to expectant mothers.
In the Aztec pantheon, Toci held great importance. The Aztecs revered her as the patroness of midwives and healers, her wisdom and compassion guiding them in their sacred duties. Her image adorned temples and shrines throughout the Aztec empire, where people sought her blessings and protection.
Toci’s iconography symbolized her role richly. Artists often depicted her as an older woman with a mature face and long, flowing hair. She wore traditional Aztec garments and carried a staff or spindle, representing her connection to healing and childbirth.
In the Aztec belief system, Toci actively participated in the lives of her people. They believed she intervened in times of need, comforting the suffering and guiding the lost. People invoked her name in prayers and rituals and carried her image in processions to honor her divine power.
The Tecuilhuitontli, held in May, was one of the most important festivals dedicated to Toci. During this festival, people gathered in temples and homes to offer prayers and sacrifices to the Grandmother Goddess. They danced and sang in her honor, and midwives and healers performed rituals to invoke her blessings.
Toci’s influence extended beyond the physical realm. The Aztecs believed she guarded the dead, guiding the souls of the departed to the afterlife. They often placed her image in tombs and burial sites, testifying to her role as a protector and comforter in the face of death.
As the Aztec empire flourished, Toci’s cult grew in prominence. Her temples became centers of healing and spiritual guidance, and her priests and priestesses earned high respect for their knowledge and wisdom. However, the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century posed a profound challenge to the Aztec civilization and its beliefs.
The Spanish missionaries sought to eradicate the indigenous religions of the Americas, including the worship of Toci. They destroyed her temples, defaced her images, and persecuted her priests. Yet, despite these attempts at suppression, Toci’s legacy lived on in the hearts of the Aztec people.
Toci’s cult went underground in the centuries that followed, but her spirit continued to endure. She became a symbol of resistance and cultural continuity, her image hidden in secret places and her stories passed down through generations.
Today, Toci’s legacy remains alive in the traditions and beliefs of the Nahuatl people, the descendants of the Aztecs. They revere her as a powerful and benevolent deity; they whisper her name with reverence, and her image still adorns homes and shrines.
In the modern world, Toci’s message of healing and compassion resonates with people from all walks of life. Many see her as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all living things, a reminder that we are all part of a more extensive web of existence.
As the sun sets on the ancient lands of the Aztecs, Toci’s spirit continues to shine brightly. She remains the Grandmother Goddess, the protector of the sick, the comforter of the grieving, and the guardian of the dead. Her legacy testifies to the enduring power of faith and the resilience of the human spirit.
Price – $12,800
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