The earliest certain representations of the god in art appear in the stone sculpture of the Chichen Itzá in the Early Postclassical period (900-1200 CE). Smoking Mirror Blues: Or, The Return of Tezcatlipoca, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Cartwright, M. (2013, August 14). Black obsidian is of the earth, highly reflective and a vital part of human blood sacrifices. For the Mexica he was associated with day 1: Death and the god was especially worshipped during Tóxcatl, the 6th month of the 18-month solar year with those who did revere the god carrying the epithet titlacauan, meaning ‘we are his slaves’, indicative perhaps that, for good or bad, there was no escaping the attentions and influence of Tezcatlipoca. Maestri, Nicoletta. In the form of Aztec pictorial writing, this story must be one of the most exciting comic strips ever. Sharing traits with the earlier God II of the Classic Maya, Tezcatlipoca was often regarded as the one supreme omnipotent god in various Mesoamerican cultures and all other gods could be considered as manifestations of this one great being. Tezcatlipoca (pron. 22 Jan 2021. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Tezcatlipoca ([teskatɬiˈpoːka]) was a central deity in Aztec mythology.He was associated with many concepts. Nicoletta Maestri holds a Ph.D. in Mesoamerican archaeology with fieldwork experience in Italy, the Near East, and throughout Mesoamerica. He could be known as Red Tezcatlipoca, the ‘Flayed One’ and associated with the gods Camaxtli and Xipe Totec (god of the Tlaxcaltecans) or as White Tezcatlipoca, the ‘Plumed Serpent’ or Quetzalcóatl, god of the Cholula. As with other Aztec religious rites an important part of the ceremony was the impersonation of the god, most often by a prisoner of war, typically the best looking and most courageous one. Credit: British Museum. He is also known as Blue Tezcatlipoca, the ‘Hummingbird Sorcerer’, god of Tenochtitlán, where he was associated with the sun and the war god Huitzilopochtli. In some ways like Huitzilopochtli who represented the blue sky, or day sky, Tezcatlipoca represented the night sky. Tezcatlipoca (nahuatliksi "savuava peili") on Mesoamerikan kansojen, varsinkin asteekkien, jumala. info)), in honorific form: Quetzalcōātzin) is a deity in Aztec culture and literature whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". Tezcatlipoca was a significant god in Aztec religion. The god could intervene directly in human affairs to bring both happiness and sorrow. Cite This Work https://www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964 (accessed January 22, 2021). Moreover, how was tezcatlipoca worshiped? Besides the Creation, Tezcatlipoca is involved in many mythical tales and one of the more curious is the arrival of the first dogs. The name was used because of the shiny black mirrors often used by Aztec priests. According to Aztec mythology, Tezcatlipoca was a vengeful god, who could see and punish any evil behavior or action happening on earth. If you need help finding the answer to the clue Tezcatlipoca worshiper from the Washington Post crossword then you're in luck because we've found the answer. In the month of Tóxcatl, the sixth month (or 5th) of the Aztec solar year, Tezcatlipoca was worshipped in special ceremonies. "Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors." After looking for all the other hints and any other related information to the clue Tezcatlipoca worshiper from the Washington Post crossword puzzle we finally found a possible answer. POW! Verenhimoisen Tezcatlipocan palvonnan myötä ihmisuhraus tuli osaksi Keski-Amerikan uskonnollisia menoja. Web. Tezcatlipoca (Tez-ca-tlee-POH-ka), whose name means “Smoking Mirror”, was the Aztec god of night and sorcery, as well as the patron deity of Aztec kings and young warriors. According to ethnographic and historical sources, he was very much a god of light and shadow, of the sound and smoke of bells and battle. "Tezcatlipoca." He is sealed inside his temple in the jungles of Mexico. His name is translated as ‘smoking mirror’ in the Nahuatl language of the Aztec and he is often associated with several different concepts, including: the night sky, night winds, hurricanes, the north, jaguars, obsidian, and war. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. The Tezcatlipoca figure goes back to earlier Mesoamerican deities worshiped by the Olmec and Maya. The god’s love of music was also displayed during the ceremony in Tóxcatl where the Tezcatlipoca impersonator broke a flute every step of the pyramid he climbed on his way to being sacrificed. Tezcatlipoca’s cult was brought to central Mexico by the Toltecs, Nahua-speaking warriors from the north, about the end of the 10th century ad.. Nach der Gottheit Tezcatlipoca wurde auch der Asteroid (1980) Tezcatlipoca benannt. He was the god of material things and of night, and was also associated with winds, the earth, magic and war. Tezcatlipoca overthrew Quetzalcoatl who overthrew him in return. Tezcatlipoca. Their battles were repeated several times, accompanied by devastation, world destruction and severe inconvenience to a large number of monkeys. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Last modified August 14, 2013. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964. 15-feb-2017 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. 2 nov. 2017 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. Ver más ideas sobre tezcatlipoca, aztecas, dioses aztecas. The opposition between Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca is reflected in the legend of the mythical city of Tollan. Moreover, how was tezcatlipoca worshiped? Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 14 August 2013 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. He wore a gold ornament with smoke curls etched on it, the smoke representing the pleas of suffering … Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important gods in Postclassical Mesoamerican culture and a particularly important deity for the Toltecs and later, for the Aztecs, most especially at Texcoco. Among other things, he was also the god of the night sky and the direction north. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. Tezcatlipoca is sometimes illustrated as the jaguar deity Tepeyollotl ("Heart of the Mountain"). In Aztec mythology he was the brother of Quetzalcoatl, Huizilopochtli and Xipe Totec. Tezcatlipoca was the God-rival of Querzazlcoatl who fought endless battles with him from the beginning of the creation of the universe. About 20 days before the final ceremony he was married to four virgins who entertained him with songs and dances; together they wandered Tenochtitlan's streets. Experts believe this decorated human skull is a depiction of the Mesoamerican deity Tezcatlipoca. Many Aztec legends hold that Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl were the gods who originated the world, told in the myth of the Legend of the Fifth Sun. The final sacrifice took place at Toxcatl's May celebrations. TEZCATLIPOCA. Tezcatlipoca Worship is a Big Button technology in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs that is unique to the Aztecs and can be researched at the Plantation. 11-jun-2018 - Explora el tablero de Dis "Tezcatlipoca" en Pinterest. He was considered the patron god of warriors. For the next year, the young man personified Tezcatlipoca, traveling through the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan attended by servants, fed with delicious food, wearing the finest clothing, and being trained in music and religion. Tezcatlipoca, (Nahuatl: “Smoking Mirror”) god of the Great Bear constellation and of the night sky, one of the major deities of the Aztec pantheon. Tezcatlipoca is an entity often believed to be vampire that was part of the ruling supernatural clique in the Aztec empire. These gods complained vociferously to Tezcatlipoca who, perhaps a little harshly, lopped off the heads of the couple and reattached them to their backsides, thus, the very first dogs were created. To Tezcatlipoca was dedicated one of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the Aztec religious calendar year. Cartwright, Mark. Finally making land they beached their cypress log boat and proceeded to make a fire by rubbing sticks together. Trees, plants and flowers sprang from the dead creature’s hair and skin whilst springs and caves were made from her eyes and nose and the valleys and mountains came from her mouth. The lowly worship him to escape their burdens, as do the ambitious. Tezcatlipoca (テスカトリポカ, Tesukatoripoka) is the god worshiped by the Aztecs. A young man was chosen at the festival among the most physically perfect prisoners. Similarities exist with the patron deity of the K'iche' Maya as described in the Popol Vuh. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/tezcatlipoca-aztec-god-of-night-172964. The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. A fight between Tezcatlipoca and the god Quetzalcoatl, who wanted to replace him, put an end to this first world with the giants being devoured by jaguars. Often considered as the supreme god he took on a bewildering array of names and manifestations depending on where and by whom he was worshipped. He was considered the patron god of warriors. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. Another story explains Tezcatlipoca’s association with music. The two later cooperated, however, to create the 5th Sun. Tezcatlipoca could take on more sinister connotations when he was known as lord of the shadows or night, a sorcerer of black magic and the bringer of evil, death and destruction as Chalchiuhtecólotl, ‘Precious Owl’ or Chalchiuhtotolin, ‘Precious Turkey’. For one year before, in fact, the captive was tutored by priests, treated as a noble and even given four women to look after him. Tez-ca-tli-po-ca) or ‘Smoking Mirror’ in Nahuatl was one of the most important gods in Postclassical Mesoamerican culture and a particularly important deity for the Toltecs (from the 10th century CE) and later, for the Aztecs, most especially at Texcoco. I added an Obsidian "flaked" knife blade with Quartz Crystal handle that represents the sacrificial knife used ceremonies. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. Quetzalcoatl - Pan-Mesoamerican Feathered Serpent God, The Founding of Tenochtitlan and the Origin of the Aztecs, Aztec Sacrifice - The Meaning and Practice of Mexica Ritual Killings, Tonatiuh, the Aztec God of the Sun, Fertility and Sacrifice, Top 10 Things to Know About the Aztecs and Their Empire, Tlaloc the Aztec God of Rain and Fertility, The Aztec Religion and Gods of the Ancient Mexica, Xipe Totec: Grisly Aztec God of Fertility and Agriculture, Profile of Huehueteotl-Xiuhtecuhtli, Aztec God of Fire, History of Animal and Plant Domestication, Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California Riverside, M.A., Anthropology, University of California Riverside. Ancient History Encyclopedia. When the special month finally came around the impersonator was handsomely dressed in a warrior costume and in a symbolic wedding festival he married his four goddesses. A creator god, Tezcatlipoca ruled over Ocelotonatiuh (“Jaguar-Sun”), the first of the four worlds that were created and destroyed before the present universe. Indeed, one of the most famous art objects of the god is the decorated skull now in the British Museum in London. ThoughtCo. A central figure of the Popol Vuh was the god Tohil whose name means "obsidian" and who was associated with sacrifice. Here he may have a smoking mirror on his head and a serpent in place of a foot, whilst in later depictions of the god he has a polished black obsidian mirror instead of a left foot. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Tezcatlipoca ruled the first sun when the world was inhabited by giants. "Tezcatlipoca." He was not always protective to soldiers, though, for sometimes he could be found at crossroads at the dead of night, ready to challenge any unsuspecting warriors. Made of obsidian, it was adorned with rich robes, earrings of gold and silver, and from its lip hung a crystal with a feather inside it. These women themselves impersonated four goddesses - Atlatonan, Huixtocihuatl, Xilonen and Xochiquetzal. The sun saw the wind god arriving and warned his entourage of musicians not to answer any demands the wind might make, otherwise, they would be sent back to earth with the wind. The young man and his entourage traveled to the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, and as he walked up the stairs of the temple he played music with four flutes that represented the world's directions; he would destroy the four flutes on his way up the stairs. The Tizoc Stone is a huge stone cylinder from the Aztec capital... Tezcatlipoca: Trickster and Supreme Deity. He rose to importance during the politically dangerous and unstable times of the Late Postclassic Aztec and early Colonial periods. May 13, 2017 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. This replica death mask came from the Natural History Museum in Mexico City. It is solid Obsidian with inlaid Turquoise and Red Coral. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. Tezcatlipoca war der Gott des Nordens, auch der Kälte und des Nachthimmels. Polished pyrite surrounded by white conch shell provide the eyes. 24-feb-2019 - The god Tezcatlipoca was a major Aztec deity who was worshiped in east-west facing temples in many Mesoamerican city-states under the influence of the Aztecs, particularly Texcoco. But images and contextual references to the god became much more abundant during the Late Postclassic period, at Tenochtitlan and Tlaxcallan sites such as Tizatlan. Often considered as the supreme god he took on a bewildering array of names and manifestations depending on where and by whom he was worshiped. Some archaeologists and historians believe that the legend of the fight between Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl refers to historical events such as the clash of different ethnic groups from the North and Central Mexico. There are a few Late Postclassic images outside the Aztec empire including one at Tomb 7 at the Zapotec capital of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, which may represent a continuing cult. The trouble began with the old couple Tata and Nene, survivors from the flood which had previously destroyed the 4th world. In some ways he was akin to Huitzilopochtli, and in others he was his opposite; for Huitzilopochtli represented the blue sky, the sky of day, while Tezcatlipoca personified the black or night sky. Eine der wichtigsten Zeremonien der aztekischen Religion war die Opferung eines Jugendlichen, der Tezcatlipoca symbolisierte. Tezcatlipoca was an important god in the Aztec religion. Also associated with conflict he was known as Yaotl or ‘Enemy’ and was patron of warriors and their training camps (telpochcalli). "Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors." For this reason, Quetzalcoatl is sometimes known as the White Tezcatlipoca to distinguish him from his brother, the Black Tezcatlipoca. As with other Aztec religious rites an important part of the ceremony was the impersonation of the god, most often by a prisoner of war, typically the best looking and most courageous one. Tezcatlipoca on nuorten soturien suojelusjumala ja pahojen tekojen kostaja, joka kykenee suureen julmuuteen. This was the Toxcatl or One Drought sacrifice, which was celebrated at the height of the dry season in May and involved the sacrifice of a boy. He was sometimes known as owner of the sky and the Earth, and Lord of the Smoking Mirror. Books Tezcatlipoca (pron. To Tezcatlipoca was dedicated one of the most ostentatious and imposing ceremonies of the Aztec religious calendar year. Warriors Jaguars and servants of this god seeking release it. Tezcatlipoca is worshiped in Hepmonalandand the Amedio Jungleby Olmanwarriors, thieves, witches, and farmers. PUNCH! We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. The earliest recognized representations of the pan-Mesoamerican god Tezcatlipoca are associated with Toltec architecture at the Temple of Warriors at Chichén Itzá, dated to AD 700-900. Jaguars are the patron of sorcerers and closely associated with the moon, Jupiter, and Ursa Major. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 14 Aug 2013. A young man was chosen at the festival among the most physically perfect prisoners. Maestri, Nicoletta. This was the Toxcatl or One Drought sacrifice, which was celebrated at the height of the dry season in May and involved the sacrifice of a boy. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. This striking object may well be one of the gifts that the Aztec king Montezuma II gave to Hernando Cortés in 1519 CE. Tezcatlipoca was also worshiped under the name Titlacahuan, "He Whose Slaves We Are", who was the master of human destiny. Often considered as the supreme god he took on a bewildering array of names and manifestations depending on where and by whom he was worshipped. He was an old-style pan-Mesoamerican god, considered the embodiment of the natural world, a frightening figure who was both omnipresent--on earth, in the land of the dead, and in the sky--and omnipotent. This banner text can have markup.. web; books; video; audio; software; images; Toggle navigation Tezcatlipocan palvonta on alun perin lähtöisin tolteekeilta. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. The Aztecs believed they lived in the fifth and last epoch. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Yet another manifestation of the god was as Tepeyolohtli, the jaguar god that lived in the centre of the mountain of the earth. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. By the Late Classic Period (600AD-900AD), it appears that the worship of Quetzalcoatl had spread throughout the Mesoamerican regi… by Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright). As with many Aztec gods, he was associated with several aspects of Aztec religion, the sky, and the earth, winds and the north, kingship, divination, and war. In his human form, Tezcatlipoca is easily recognizable in codex images by the black stripes painted on his face, depending on the aspect of the god that was represented, and by an obsidian mirror on his chest, through which he could see all human thoughts and actions. Ein Jugendlicher bot sich zum Opfer an, wurde ein Jahr lang als Gott verehrt und spielte während dieser Zeit auf den Straßen Flöte. Tezcatlipoca’s statue: Tezcatlipoca was always represented as a young god and some important elements of his human form can be found in the statue dedicated to his worship. Transformed into giant snakes, the two gods attacked and dismembered the female reptilian monster known as Tlaltcuhtli (or Cipactli), one part became the earth and the other the sky. The skull is covered in turquoise and black lignite mosaic with red thorny oyster shell in the nasal cavity. Tezcatlipoca was believed to be the son of the primordial androgynous god Ometeotl. He is often in the company of a turquoise snake, may have stripes painted on his face in yellow and black and wear a costume with corn designs (in reference to his role as god of the dry season and war) and skulls and bones (as he is an underworld god). He was considered the patron god of warriors. The god could be depicted in different colours depending on which cardinal point he was representing - black for north, blue for south, red for east and white for west. Cartwright, Mark. As soon as this happened, a new boy was chosen for the following year. In Aztec tradition Tezcatlipoca was considered to be an opposite and rival to Quetzalcoatl. Honoured with flowers and dances the man-god was then ferried to a dedicated temple where he was promptly sacrificed and his heart removed to honour the real Tezcatlipoca. Finally, in a more positive role, when he was Omácatl, he was seen as the patron of the aristocracy and feasts. The legend reports that Quetzalcoatl was a peaceful king and priest of Tollan, but he was deceived by Tezcatlipoca and his followers, who practiced human sacrifice and violence. One of Tezcatlipoca’s brothers was Quetzalcoatl. https://www.ancient.eu/Tezcatlipoca/. Invisible and omnipotent, he was known as a Creator god, the god of sustenance, a patron of warriors and as the bringer of both good and evil he was the very embodiment of change through conflict. Tezcatlipoca was the 10th of the 13 Lords of the Day and associated with the horned owl in the Mesoamerican calendar whilst his nagual or animal spirit was the jaguar. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. He was closely associated with obsidian (itzli in the Aztec language) and jaguars (ocelotl). Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors. Thank you for visiting my website! Tezcatlipoca is often represented wearing a turquoise mask with a black eye band. In keeping with the god’s complex character of conflicting opposites, though, in this role he could at the same time represent thieves and evil sorcerers. For these qualities, Aztec kings were considered Tezcatlipoca’s representatives on earth; at their election, they had to stand in front of the god’s image and perform several ceremonies in order to legitimize their right to rule. Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. This replacement of the foot is a reference to a wound he received in his famous battle with Tlaltecuhtli during the Creation. As with other Aztec religious rites an important part of the ceremony was the impersonation of the god, most often by a prisoner of war, typically the best looking and most courageous one. The mask interior is lined with deerskin and the same material is used for the two straps attached to the skull. He was known as Black Tezcatlipoca or the ‘Smoking Mirror’, god of the day and of Texcoco. Er steht für Mond und die Farbe Schwarz, für die Materie, die Kriege, aber auch für die Versuchung.Tezcatlipoca war auch beteiligt an der Erschaffung der Welt zur ersten Sonne.Sein Gegenspieler war Kurzaquatel, der zerstörte die Welt.Aber später kam wieder Tezcatlipoca ins Spiel und vertrieb ihn wieder. However, the wind god started singing in such an irresistible manner that one of the musicians felt compelled to answer and so he was punished by the sun and made to return to earth, bringing with him the gift of music. License. (2020, August 27). Sometimes he carries four arrows in his right hand, weapons he uses to punish wrongdoers. Once researched, one Skull Knight for every four minutes the game has passed, up to 30 minutes (for a total of 7 Skull Knights), will appear in the Home City shipment point. In the month of Tóxcatl, the sixth month (or 5th) of the Aztec solar year, Tezcatlipoca was worshipped in special ceremonies. He was the warrior of the North while Huitzilopochtli was the warrior of the South. The mirror may signify that the god is all-seeing or that he rules over all of the earth, sometimes referred to as a smoking mirror. 1 Biography 1.1 Nature 2 Speculation 3 References According to the Great Stone, Tezcatlipoca had lived in the valley of Mexico even before the Aztecs under the guidance of Huitzilopochtli had arrived. Consequently, directly or under one of his many names, he was worshiped not only in Tenoch-titlan but also in many other parts of Mexico, and especially in Texcoco. Tezcatlipoca was known as the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. In some images, a smoking mirror replaces Tezcatlipoca's lower leg or foot. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. There is also at least one image of Tezcatlipoca at Tula; the Aztecs clearly associated Tezcatlipoca with the Toltecs. Tezcatlipoca was the son of the god Ometéotl, who was the original creator entity. According to Aztec mythology, prior to the current times, the world had passed through a series of four cycles, or “suns”, each one represented by a specific deity, and each one ending in a turbulent way. He brought devastation to the world which is why the Aztecs feared him. He was considered the patron god of warriors. Recent research suggests that Tezcatlipoca was one of the most important gods in the Late Postclassic Aztec pantheon. That name is a reference to obsidian mirrors, circular flat shiny objects made of volcanic glass, as well as a symbolic reference to the smoke of battle and sacrifice. Tezcatlipoca was sometimes cast as the supernatural antagonist of Quetzalcoatl, the deity associated with cultural creativity, urban order, and priestly wisdom. Also the Classic Maya god of rulership and thunder known to modern Mayanists as "God K", … Ancient History Encyclopedia. In a similar vein, Tezcatlipoca could represent those other disagreeable elements of the human condition: intense cold, sin and misery when he took on the guise of Itztlacoliuhqui. TEZCATLIPOCA ("the smoking mirror") was one of the four Aztec creator gods who arranged the universe and set the cosmic ages in motion through periodic celestial battles. Tez-ca-tli-po-ca) or Smoking Mirror in Nahuatl was one of the most important gods in Postclassical Mesoamerican culture and a particularly important deity for the Toltecs (from the 10th century CE) and later, for the Aztecs, most especially at Texcoco. Ever-present, the god could intervene directly in human affairs to bring both happiness and sorrow. In the complex Mesoamerican creation myths Tezcatlipoca ruled the first world of the Sun but was then overthrown by Quetzalcóatl. One day the god instructed a black wind god to go to the sun and fetch some music. BASH! Maestri, Nicoletta. Owing to Aztec dualism, Tezcatlipoca was associated with both good things such … Aztec Sun Stoneby Dennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA). When he reached the top, a group of priests carried out his sacrifice. The wind god needed help for such a dangerous mission and so he enrolled Tezcatlipoca’s assistants - a turtle, mermaid and a whale - these he put together to make a bridge so that he might cross the ocean.