The Lord and Lady of Duality
Ometeotl is the primordial creative principle of Aztec cosmology, a single divinity embodying both male and female aspects. Often split into the pair Ometecuhtli ("Lord of Duality") and Omecihuatl ("Lady of Duality"), this god dwells in Omeyocan, the highest, thirteenth heaven. From this self-generated source all other gods and the structure of the cosmos flow.
The name comes from Nahuatl ome, "two," and teotl, "god" or "sacred energy" — literally "Two-God." The doubling expresses the Aztec idea that all things hold complementary opposites: order and chaos, day and night, fire and water. Ometeotl is less a worshipped, story-telling deity than a remote first cause.
From Ometeotl came four sons who divide creation among the cardinal directions, including the rivals Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca. These children set in motion the cycle of suns and the building of the world.
Common Questions
Is Ometeotl one god or two?
Both. Ometeotl is a single dual deity often described as the pairing of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, expressing the union of male and female principles.
What does the name Ometeotl mean?
It joins Nahuatl ome ("two") and teotl ("god" or "sacred force"), meaning "Two-God" or "Dual God."
