Itzpapalotl

Itzpapalotl (pronounced "Eetz-pah-pah-lotl") is a significant figure in Mesoamerican mythology, particularly within the Aztec tradition. The term translates to "Obsidian Butterfly" from the Nahuatl language, combining itzpapaloti (obsidian) and papalotl (butterfly). In Hebrew, this could be roughly translated as פרפר האובסידיאן. In other relevant languages, it is known as Mariposa de Obsidiana in Spanish and Papillon d'Obsidienne in French. Itzpapalotl is often depicted as a beautiful yet fearsome warrior woman with butterfly wings made of obsidian knives, symbolizing both beauty and destruction. She is associated with the Tzitzimime, a group of demonic entities believed to descend during solar eclipses to devour humans. Itzpapalotl is also linked to fertility, warfare, and the stars, reflecting the complex and multifaceted nature of Aztec cosmology. Her dualistic character embodies the Aztec understanding of the interconnectedness of life and death, creation and destruction.