Legends of the Past


Figure at Xochitecatl holding ear of corn.- photo credit Connor Wilcox 2018

    Mexico has a rich history of agriculture with insights into the lives of ancient people dating back hundreds of years B.C.E. The principle crop found in paintings and art from ancient times through present day is Maiz. It seems that agriculture was not simply a means for survival but a way of life, A bridge between deity and humanity, a center for worship, and an inspiration for artesians.

 


  Much of the art in ancient America is thought to be religious in nature, most of this art is found at or near pyramids such as Teotihuacan, Cacaxtla, Xochitecatl, and Cholula. Xochitecatl and Cacaxtla are less well known and found in the small state of Tlaxcala, between Puebla and Mexico City. Xochitecatl is the older of the two and is dedicated to the goddess of fertility and flowers (says, 2022). Here we see some of the first art depicting the importance of maiz in the region. The people having been given permission to inhabit these lands, as legend has it, from the great volcano el Popocatepetl, started to build in the year 800 B.C.E. They built on a beautiful platform and there honored and offered sacrifices to the godess of fertility, without maiz they would not have been able to sustain the large number of people through central Mexico, naturally much of their art and ceremonies involved rain and this essential crop. Having lived in peace with the volcano for centries, his temperament began to change and anger brewed inside until he exploded forcing the people to leave(says, 2022). 

    Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, the two volcanoes to the north east of Tlaxcala were once humans just as these inhabitants. Iztaccihuatl was the daughter of a king and popocatepetl a brave warrior both very much in love. After hearing of his death, Iztaccihuatl, overtaken with grief, dies of a broken heart. A devastating tragedy as this news was untrue, and upon his return Popocatepetl finds that his love has died. Holding his dear iztaccihuatl and kneeling beside her, he loses the will to live. Seeing this calamity, the gods grant his wish turning both of them into great volcanos, their story written upon the face of the land forever(says, 2022).



    

El popocateptl again allows the inhabitants to return to the area who quickly begin to prosper. It is still a mystery as to who these people are as they have key similarities to other peoples of the time including the Maya. Regardless, they return again to the ceremonial site of xochitecatl and begin construction of a sister location, cacaxtla(says, 2022). Here we again see the deep importance of maiz in this rich culture. In the photograph to the right we see a one of numerous murals at cacaxtla, many of which have maiz and gods of maiz or rain brilliantly illustrated. Though difficult to see, this particular mural paints a scene of a field of maiz a connection to the earth and to the gods.

The inhabitants occupied this area utilizing Xochitecatl and Cacaxtla as expressive centers of art and relition for the next few centuries until 950 C.E. when the volcano popocatepetl again forces them to leave(Dhwty, 2021). This area of Mexico continues to be consequential during the rule of the Aztecs through colonial times as an important trade route, defensive location, and agricultural center. Truly this is a place where people are connected to their ancestors and gods through art and agriculture. Xochitecatl is place of the flower, Cacaxtla where the where the rain dies on earth, the state of tlaxcala a Nahuatl for tortilla de maiz; all given life and sustained through the earth and watched over by the great volcanos on all sides.


says, E., says, E. F., says, A., says, C. G., says, W. M., says, W. H., says, S., says, P. H., says, U. | S., says, R. A. @T. L., says, A. (F. D. T., & says, T. L. (2022, June 26). Xochitécatl: The ruins of an ancient city surrounded by 4 volcanoes in Mexico. Wanderer Writes. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://wandererwrites.com/xochitecatl-an-ancient-site-surrounded-by-volcanoes/

Dhwty. (2021, April 21). Cacaxtla: Where the rain dies on Earth and murals Tell tales of forgotten lives. Ancient Origins . Reconstructing the story of humanity's past. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/cacaxtla-0010389

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