Xolotl

Aztec god

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Last updated

July 15, 2026

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Xolotl was an Aztec god associated with lightning, death, and the planet Venus. He was often depicted as a dog-headed deity and was a companion to Quetzalcoatl. Together, they journeyed to the underworld to retrieve the bones of ancient humans, which Xolotl then anointed with his own blood to bring forth new life.1

Xolotl's name is also shared with the axolotl, a critically endangered salamander native to Lake Xochimilco near Mexico City. This amphibian is known for retaining its larval features throughout adulthood, including external gills. The decline in axolotl populations is attributed to habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species.2

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Quetzalcóatl
With his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, he was said to have descended to the underground hell of Mictlan to gather the bones of the ancient dead. Those bones he anointed with his own blood, giving birth to the men who inhabit the present universe.
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With his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, he was said to have descended to the underground hell of Mictlan to gather the bones of the ancient dead. Those bones he anointed with his own blood, giving birth to the men who inhabit the present universe.
Read More