Pitao Huichaana

Zapotec ⟨Pitào Huichàana⟩, also Nohuichana. The foremost Zapotec goddess and the female half of the creator-couple — lady of the waters, of generation and childbirth — paired with Cozaana and mother (with him) of the Sun-god Copijcha. Distinct from the death-goddess Xonaxi Quecuya.

Domains

• water and rivers
• childbirth and generation
• fish and fishing
• women and children

Powers

• creates and multiplies men and fish
• governs conception, childbirth and the human life-cycle, aiding women in labour
• commands the waters of the rivers, lagoons and rains and the fish within them

Epithets

• Nohuichana

Relations

• spouse: Pitao Cozaana
• mother of: Pitao Copijcha
• emanation of: Coqui Xee

Sources

• Córdova, Fray Juan de. Vocabulario en lengua çapoteca. 1578 (Huichaana, diosa de la generación a quien las parturientas ofrecían sacrificios).
• Lind, Michael. Ancient Zapotec Religion. University Press of Colorado, 2015 (Pitao Huichaana, goddess of procreation and children, creator of men and fish, associated with water).
• Münch Galindo, Guido. La Teogonía Zapoteca y sus vestigios en Tehuantepec. UNAM, 1983 (Huichana, diosa del agua, los ríos, los peces, el parto y la generación; esposa de Cozana).
• Whitecotton, Joseph W. The Zapotecs: Princes, Priests, and Peasants. University of Oklahoma Press, 1977.