Did you know that the Mexica priests had to light up incense for the effigies of their gods four times a day?
Among the many tasks they had, the Mexica novices and priests were in charge of burning a special resin called copal, which was extracted from one of two kinds of busera trees. This resin was burned in small incense burners, which came in many different shapes, the most common ones having an elongated shape that ended with a circle at the center for depositing the copal.
The chronicles tell about the general uses for copal, in public, domestic and private ceremonies for commoners as well as nobles.
The tlamacazque offered the copal smoke directing it towards the four cardinal points, towards the Sun and finally towards the image of a deity, with the purpose of linking men and gods, so the latter would favor the former.
This practice survived the Spanish conquest, as the use of copal is still present in many indigenous festivities of modern-day Mexico.
This image shows a tlamacazque, with his body painted black, carrying a bag containing copal, and an incense burner, which is based on those found in a massive offering of burners at the Greater Temple in Mexico’s City.
Have you ever enjoyed the fragrant smell of copal?
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