Cipactli

Cipactli (pronounced see-PAK-tlee) is a Nahuatl word that translates to "crocodile" or "alligator" in English. In the context of Aztec mythology, Cipactli is a primordial sea monster that played a crucial role in the creation of the world. According to the myth, the gods Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca defeated Cipactli and used its body to create the Earth, with its tail becoming the highlands and its head the lowlands. The creature is often depicted with a gaping maw and is associated with the cardinal direction east, as well as the first day of the Aztec calendar. In Hebrew, the word does not have a direct translation, but it can be transliterated as ציפקטלי. In Spanish, it is sometimes referred to as Cipactli or Cipactli monster, maintaining its Nahuatl origins. The symbol of Cipactli is also the first day sign in the tonalpohualli, the Aztec calendar system.