Back of the head of an Aztec figure of Xipe Totec

Aztec figure of Xipe Totec, the Flayed Lord, who is dressed in the skin of a sacrificial victim

Back of the head of an Aztec figure of Xipe Totec, the Flayed Lord, who is dressed in the skin of a sacrificial victim. During the agricultural festival of Tlacaxipeualiztli a sacrificial victim was skinned alive, and a warrior was dressed in the skin and performed a dance. The ritual symbolised the bursting of the skin of the maize seed. On the back of the head is the major symbol of Tezcatlipoca, the smoking mirror. Xipe Totec was one of the aspects of Tezcatlipoca, particularly associalted with suffering and sacrifice.