Yacatecuhtli
/ˌjɑːkɑːteɪˈkuːtli/noun
In Aztec religion, a deity associated with merchants, travelers, and the guiding of commerce and journeys.
Did you know?Yacatecuhtli was honored by merchants because the “nose” in Nahuatl could symbolize leadership and the frontmost, guiding part of a body, making the deity a divine guide for travel and trade.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Nahuatl
Nah
Yacatecuhtli
“a deity of merchants and travelers; literally “nose lord””
Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
Nah
yacatl
“nose; the foremost part; a point or tip”
Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
Nah
tecuhtli
“lord; noble; ruler”
16th Century
Spanish
Yacatecuhtli
“recorded by Spanish chroniclers as an Aztec god of merchants and travel”
Modern English
English
Yacatecuhtli
“the Nahuatl name of an Aztec deity associated with merchants and travelers”