Find an ear of corn (with corn silks dangling from it) emerging from Xilonen’s headdress. How many blossoms do you see on her headband? What other decorations do you see? Look for a stone necklace that has two holes pierced at either end. Although it has been lost, a real necklace was once inserted into these holes. Print the image of Xilonen and design a new necklace for her with markers, crayons, and colored pencils.
		Aztec culture, Mexico, Tenochitlán Head of Xilonen, Goddess of Young Maize, 1400/1500 Basalt, h. 32.4 cm x w. 20.3 cm x d. 12 cm Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Purchase Fund, 1986.1091

This stone sculpture comes from Tenochtitlán (ten-oh-cheet-lahn), the center of the ancient Aztec empire, which is now buried under present-day Mexico City. The woman depicted in the sculpture is Xilonen (shi-lo-nen), or "Young Maize," the Aztec goddess of the first tender corn.

Because corn was the main food plant in Mesoamerica, Xilonen was a very important goddess. When dried, corn lasted a year or more. Therefore, the Aztecs could eat it year-round.