Itzpapalotl the Aztec God Obsidian Butterfly, Clawed Butterfly, Patches, Iron-on patches, Mexico, Mexica Apprx. 4"

Itzpapalotl the Aztec God Obsidian Butterfly, Clawed Butterfly, Patches, Iron-on patches, Mexico, Mexica Apprx. 4"

Itzpapalotl's name can either mean "obsidian butterfly" or "clawed butterfly"; the latter meaning seems most likely. It's quite possible that clawed butterfly refers to the bat and in some instances Itzpapalotl is depicted with bat wings. However, she can also appear with clear butterfly or eagle attributes. Her wings are obsidian or tecpatl (flint) knife tipped. (In the Manuscript of 1558, Itzpapalotl is described as having "blossomed into the white flint, and they took the white and wrapped it in a bundle.") She could appear in the form of a beautiful, seductive woman or terrible goddess with a skeletal head and butterfly wings supplied with stone blades.