Aztec · No. 015

Turquoise Double-Headed Serpent

Inspired by: A MYTHENOR creation inspired by the turquoise-mosaic double-headed serpent pectoral, a Mixtec-Aztec piece now in the British Museum.

Turquoise Double-Headed Serpent
One head watches the sunrise, the other the sunset.
Rarity
Uncommon
Category
Monster
ATK
1700
DEF
1500
Level
5
Type
Serpent
Element
Water
Constellations
Moon · Leviathan

The myth

One of the masterpieces of Mesoamerican art is a wooden pectoral shaped as a two-headed serpent, covered in tiny squares of turquoise, with red mouths of spondylus shell and white shell teeth. It measures about 43 centimeters and was probably part of a priest’s ceremonial costume. The double-headed serpent, maquizcoatl, was considered a bad omen, though the name was also linked to Huitzilopochtli. Turquoise, xihuitl, was among the most valued materials, traded from what is now the southwestern United States.

Why it has this power

A Level 5 Uncommon with 1700 ATK and 1500 DEF: two heads watch better than one. The game made it Water, for the color of turquoise, and gave it Moon and Leviathan, constellations of the deep. It is a material for the Rite of the Primordial Sea, which calls Cipactli: the turquoise jewel helps summon the monster of the ancient waters.

Did you know

The pectoral was probably among the treasures shipped to Europe in the sixteenth century, after the conquest.

Connections

  • In Cuauhtli, Lake Hunter's deck

Where to get it

  • Campaign drop: Cuauhtli, Lake Hunter (Valley of the Fifth Sun) — grade S: 17% · grade A: 17% · grade B: 14% · grade C: 9.4%
  • Daily Offering: 0.45% per pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
  • Welcome Pack: 1.1% per pack (Uncommon 30% per card)
  • Traveler's Pack: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
  • Bronze Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 29% per card)
  • Silver Reliquary: 0.96% per pack · 5.6% in the themed pack (Uncommon 33% per card)
  • Golden Reliquary: 0.94% per pack · 5.5% in the themed pack (Uncommon 35% per card)
  • Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.98% of days · 400 gold
  • Craft with card dust: 100 dust
  • Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

  1. Turquoise in Mesoamerica — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright
  2. Aztec Art — World History Encyclopedia — Mark Cartwright