In Aztec religion, Coyolxāuhqui (Nahuatl pronunciation: [kojoɬˈʃaːʍki], "Painted with Bells"[4]) is a daughter of the goddess Cōātlīcue ("Serpent Skirt").

[4] In 1978, workers at an electric company accidentally discovered a large stone relief depicting Coyolxāuhqui in Mexico City.

The discovery of the Coyolxāuhqui stone led to large-scale excavation, directed by Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, to unearth the Huēyi Teōcalli (Templo Mayor in Spanish).

[6] The prominent position of the Coyolxāuhqui stone suggests the importance of her defeat by the Centzonhuītznāhua in Aztec religion and national identity.

As they prepared for battle and gathered at the base of Coatepec, one of the Centzonhuītznāhua, Quauitlicac, warned Huītzilōpōchtli of the attack while he was in utero.

"[8] Huītzilōpōchtli killed Coyolxāuhqui, beheading her and throwing her body down the side of Coatepec: "He pierced Coyolxauhqui, and then quickly struck off her head.

On February 21, 1978, a group of workers for the Mexico City electric power company came across a large shield-shaped stone covered in reliefs while digging.

[13] The Coyolxāuhqui stone sat at the base of the stairs of the Huēyi Teōcalli, the primary temple of the Mexica in Tenochtitlan, on the side dedicated to Huitzilopochtli.

[7] Eduardo Matos Moctezuma first noted that the monument's placement at the bottom of the Templo Mayor commemorated the history of Huītzilōpōchtli defeating Coyolxāuhqui in the battle on Mount Coatepetel.

Aztec historian Richard Townsend describes it as one of Mesoamerican art's most powerfully expressive sculptures, using "an assurance of design and a technical virtuosity not previously seen at the pyramids.

She wears a skull tied to a belt of snakes around her waist and an ear tab showing the Mexica year sign.

[12] In the image to the right, which represents the original colors of the stone, Coyolxāuhqui's yellow body lies before a red background.

[18] Sacrificial victims crossed this stone before walking up the stairs of the temple to the block in front of Huītzilōpōchtli's shrine.

[17] Scholars also believe that the decapitation and destruction of Coyolxāuhqui are reflected in the pattern of the warrior ritual sacrifice, particularly during the feast of Panquetzaliztli (Banner Raising).