Copil (son of Malinalxochitl)

In Aztec mythology, Copil was the son of the goddess Malinalxochitl and Malinalco king, Chimalcuauhtli.[1]

When grown he sought revenge for his mother's abandonment by her brother, Huītzilōpōchtli. When the Mexica were encamped at Chapultepec, he confronted his uncle. Hostility brewed, and Copil was killed[1] on the hill Peñón de los Baños [es] by Mexicas under orders of Huītzilōpōchtli,[2] while Copil was awaiting to watch the battle between the Mexicas and tribes he incited to fight them.[3] He was slain by priest Cuauhtlequetzqui, who later married Copil's daughter, Xicomoyahual.[4] He was decapitated and his head was placed atop the hill and then an outcrop in Lake Texcoco.[5] His heart was extracted and thrown into the swamp where it grew into nopal. It was here the Mexicas were given the signal to build Tenochtitlan.[3][5]

  1. ^ a b Roskamp (2010), p. 88
  2. ^ Aveni, Calnek & Hartung (1988), pp. 291–292
  3. ^ a b Bahr (2004), p. 742
  4. ^ Diel (2005), p. 96
  5. ^ a b Aveni, Calnek & Hartung (1988), pp. 292