''Aztecs'' - The improper name for the indigenous people of what is considered to be today, Mexico.
-'Jason, why is your blog plastered with wrong terminology?'
The answer is because I am
cool.
 |
| Like a Boss |
In all seriousness, the term 'Aztec' actually means ''the people from Aztlan'' (you must commend them on their creativity). Aztlan was their original homeland, postulated to be somewhere north of modern day Mexico City, though where exactly is a subject that is still heatedly debated. Fortunately we have people like this guy,
 |
Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
-UbernameguyWHODISCOVEREDAFRIGGINHUGETEMPLEUNDERTHEGROUND
also, he wears cool hats. |
 |
| Typical day at work |
and a slew of other archaeologists trying to pinpoint its location.
Therefore, the original term is the ''Aztecs'', yet the more historically accurate and predominantly recorded name is the ''Mexicas,'' established after the aforementioned Aztecs decided to go on a pilgrimage south and literally abandon everything they had for a new land. (our only guess as to why, has to do with them ingesting copious amounts of the peyote cactus and tripping their balls off.)
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Depiction of the departure from Aztlán in the 16th-century Codex Boturini | | |
 |
| On second thought, I think i'd follow him too |
|
|
|
It is said that they were led by one of their deities, Huitzilopochtli, 'Blue hummingbird'/ 'Hummingbird of the south' :S , (more on him in another post!) and passed the Anahuac Valley 'Land on the edge of the water,' reaching Lake Texcoco. At the Lake (still tripping,) they saw an eagle perched on a Nopal Cactus, carrying a snake, which fulfilled their ancient prophecy and signified that they must build their city there. Oh yeah, before finding the eagle they were wandering the deserts of what is modern day Mexico for 100 years; talk about being trolled by Huitzilopochtli.
All was not merry, however. It seems this part of town was Tepanec territory. The Tepanec natives were what is considered to be today, a sister culture to the Aztecs, with a similar story of wandering around and settling in Chapultepec, near the anahuac valley. The only difference is that they settled around the late 12th century, as opposed to the Aztecs, settling in 1248. Promptly kicked out of their new home, they began their hobo routine once again, looking for a place to stay, ending up as vassals in the terittory of Coxcoxtli, leader of the Culhuacan, who allowed them to settle in the barren land of Tizapan, in 1299. It appears that this Coxcoxtli may be the first recorded case of extreme bipolarism in history; prior to accepting the Aztecs as vassals, he aided in their ousting and massacre in Chapultepec.
 |
| Before |
 |
| After |
In the early 14th century, the vassal of the Mexica/Aztecs asked for Achitometl's daughter (the successor to Coxcoxtli), in order to make her the goddess Yaocihuatl. Unbeknownst to Achitometl, the Mexica actually planned to sacrifice her. As the story goes, during a festival dinner, a priest came out wearing her flayed skin as part of the ritual. Upon seeing this, the king and the people of Culhuacan were horrified and expelled the Mexica. The Mexica found their way onto a small island in Lake Texcoco, where they founded their capital, Tenochtitlan. Finally, Tenochtitlan was built and completed by 1350.
The emperor of Tenochtitlan, Acamapichtli, was a grandson of Coxcoxtli.
So ends the first entry in this newfound treasure trove of Mesoamerican heritage;
hope you enjoyed, stay tuned £"!
J.Omacatl
