---
title: Chalchiuhtlicue
author: Unknown Artist
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21257/chalchiuhtlicue/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2025-11-06
---

# Chalchiuhtlicue

_Authored by Unknown Artist_

## Image File

[![Chalchiuhtlicue](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21257.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21257.png)

## Image Caption

Chalchiutlicue or "She of the Jade Skirt", ink and natural pigment on agave paper, unknown artist, included in the *Codex Borbonicus* by unknown [Aztec](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) priests, Mexico, 16th century

Chalchiuhtlicue was the Aztec goddess of lakes and streams. She was related to the liquid environment of the womb and played an important role in ceremonies related to birth. In this image, a stream issues from beneath the goddess with two small humans, likely infants, carried up in the waters. There are seashells at the edges of the water, indicating Chalchiuhtlicue's association with fertility. Shells like those were deposited in large amounts in the caches on the [Tlaloc](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tlaloc/) side of the [Templo Mayor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Templo_Mayor/) in [Tenochtitlan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tenochtitlan/) and corresponded to the fertile, water-related mountain of sustenance.

As the meaning of her name suggests, she wears an ornamented jade skirt and her face is adorned with the characteristic black, vertical lines on her lower cheeks.

Bibliothèque de l'Assemblée Nationale Française, [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/)

## Bibliography

- [Miller, Mary Ellen & Taube, Karl. *An Illustrated Dictionary of the Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya.* Thames & Hudson, 1997.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500279284/)
- [Realms of the Sacred in Daily Life: Early Written Records of Mesoamerica](https://www.lib.uci.edu/sites/all/exhibits/meso/aztec4.html "Realms of the Sacred in Daily Life: Early Written Records of Mesoamerica"), accessed 23 Oct 2025.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Artist, U. (2025, November 06). Chalchiuhtlicue. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21257/chalchiuhtlicue/>
### Chicago
Artist, Unknown. "Chalchiuhtlicue." *World History Encyclopedia*, November 06, 2025. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21257/chalchiuhtlicue/>.
### MLA
Artist, Unknown. "Chalchiuhtlicue." *World History Encyclopedia*, 06 Nov 2025, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21257/chalchiuhtlicue/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Codex_Borbonicus#/media/File:Codex_Borbonicus_(p._5).jpg) by [**Unknown Artist**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Codex_Borbonicus#/media/File:Codex_Borbonicus_(p._5).jpg). Submitted by [Jordy Samuels](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jordysamuels.jdt/ "User Page: Jordy Samuels"), published on 06 November 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.