Which Aztec god was the god of fire and time?

Xiuhtecuhtli was the Aztec god of fire and time. His name is usually translated as “Turquoise Lord” or “Lord of Fire,” and he was also associated with heat, the year, rulership, and the life-giving power of the hearth.

The connection with time comes from the Nahuatl word xihuitl, which can refer to “year,” “turquoise,” or “fire.” Xiuhtecuhtli was therefore linked to the yearly cycle and to the renewal of sacred fire. A perpetual flame honoring him was maintained in Aztec homes and temples, making him a central household and civic deity.

He was especially important during the New Fire Ceremony, held every 52 years when the 365-day solar calendar and 260-day ritual calendar completed a calendar round. Priests kindled a new sacred flame and carried it to rekindle fires throughout the community. Xiuhtecuhtli is sometimes identified with Huehueteotl, the Old God, but the two names emphasize different aspects of the fire deity: youthful Xiuhtecuhtli and aged Huehueteotl.