Archeologists have uncovered the first known temple to the important pre-Hispanic deity called the Flayed Lord, who is represented by a human’s skinless corpse.
The Flayed Lord, or Xipe Tótec, was linked with fertility, agricultural cycles and war, according to a statement from Mexican authorities released on Wednesday.
A dig at Popoloca Indian ruins known as Ndachjian–Tehuacán in Puebla state, central Mexico, revealed two skulls and a torso from ancient statues of the deity.
A team from the National Institute of Anthropology and History also found two sacrificial altars, which would have been used as part of ceremonies in which priests skinned their victims before covering themselves in it as a sign of regeneration.
