New Readings of the Moon Goddess Coyolxauhqui

Helen Burgos-Ellis reflects on how Chicana artists reinterpret the Aztec moon goddess Coyolxauhqui as a symbol of power, resilience, and justice. Though once defeated, Coyolxauhqui is reimagined as a general and leader—especially in works that address femicide and the disappearance of women in Juárez. By referencing pre-contact themes and invoking Coyolxauhqui’s strength, these artists give voice to Indigenous and feminist struggles, connecting past cosmologies to present-day resistance.

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  • Close up on Helen Burgos Ellis smiling

    Helen

    Burgos-Ellis

    Art Historian and Lecturer

    César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles