The earth goddess of the Aztecs, she was one of the wives of the
cloud serpent Mixcoatl. One day while she was sweeping a feathery ball
descended to her like a lump of thread, and she took it and put it in
her bosom. After the housework was done, she looked in vain for the
ball, but could not find it. The legend says that she became magically
impregnated by the ball. The miraculous conception, however, angered her
other offspring, who attacked her, but her new son, Huitzilopochtli
emerged fully armed from her womb, and fought them off, killing many.
Coatlicue was the earth serpent goddess, and was very horrible in
aspect, her skirt being woven of writhing snakes, her necklace of human
hearts and hands supported a skull pendant. Her hands and feet were
clawed, her breasts were flabby, and her diet consisted of human
corpses.
