600 – Witch picture

Physical description:

Reproduction of a wall carving of a witch (or goddess) riding a broomstick and wearing a pointed hat or headdress. Pre-Columbian from South or Central America.

Museum classification:

Images of Witchcraft

Information:

This is probably the Aztec goddess Tlazolteotl, a complex fertility deity, goddess of childbirth, sexual lust, filth and repentance. She rides on a broom to sweep away the sins of the penitent.
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Probe back as far as one can reach in time - and there ever-present along the road of research one finds nude ladies flying high up in the sky on broomsticks. You can see the original of this line sketch of a flying witch cut into the rock face of an Aztec temple in Mexico.'

Resource:

Picture

Materials:

Paper

Copyright ownership:

Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.

This is probably the Aztec goddess Tlazolteotl, a complex fertility deity, goddess of childbirth, sexual lust, filth and repentance. She rides on a broom to sweep away the sins of the penitent.
Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'Probe back as far as one can reach in time - and there ever-present along the road of research one finds nude ladies flying high up in the sky on broomsticks. You can see the original of this line sketch of a flying witch cut into the rock face of an Aztec temple in Mexico.'