Tamoanchan, Tlalocan: places of mist

656 Pages·1997·7.2 MB·English

by  Alfredo López Austin

Tamoanchan, Tlalocan : Places of Mist
title:
Mesoamerican Worlds
author: López Austin, Alfredo.
publisher: University Press of Colorado
isbn10 | asin: 0870814451
print isbn13: 9780870814457
ebook isbn13: 9780585004549
language: English
Aztecs--Religion, Aztec mythology, Aztec
subject
philosophy, Geographical myths--Mexico.
publication date: 1997
lcc: F1219.76.R45L6513 1997eb
ddc: 299/.78452
Aztecs--Religion, Aztec mythology, Aztec
subject:
philosophy, Geographical myths--Mexico.
Page iii
Tamoanchan,
Tlalocan
Places of Mist
Alfredo López Austin
Translated by
Bernard R. Ortiz de Montellano
Thelma Ortiz de Montellano
UNIVERSITY PRESS OF COLORADO
Page iv
© 1997 by the University of Press of Colorado
International Standard Book Number 0870814451
Published by the University Press of Colorado
P.O. Box 849
Niwot, Colorado 80544
[phone]
Spanish edition published by Fondo de Cultura Económica © 1994,
México, D.F.
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing
enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State College, Colorado State
University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa State College, Metropolitan
State College of Denver, University of Colorado, University of
Northern Colorado, University of Southern Colorado, and Western
State College of Colorado.
Jacket and book design by Paulette Livers Lambert
Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data
López Austin, Alfredo.
[Tamoanchan y Tlalocan. English]
Tamoanchan, Tlalocan: places of mist / Alfredo López Austin:
translated by Bernard R. Ortiz de Montellano, Thelma Ortiz de
Montellano.
p. cm. (Mesoamerican worlds)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-87081-445-1 (alk. paper)
1. AztecsReligion. 2. Aztec mythology. 3. Aztec philosophy. 4.
Geographical myths
Mexico. I. Title. II. Series.
F1219.76.R45L6513 1997
299'.78452dc21
9653289
CIP
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of the American
National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials. ANSI Z.48-1948
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Page v
To Martha Rosario
Page vi
The Mesoamerican Worlds Series
Life and Death in the Templo Mayor, Eduardo Matos Moctezuma The
Offerings of the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan, Leonardo López Luján
Twin City Tales: A Hermenueutical Reassessment of Tula and Chichén
Itzá, Lindsay Jones Utopia and History in Mexico: The First
Chronicles of Mexican Civilization, 12501569, Georges Baudot
Series Editors:
David Carrasco
Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
Editorial Board:
Alfredo López Austin
Anthony Aveni
Elizabeth Boone
Doris Heyden
Charles H. Long
Henry B. Nicholson
Page vii
Contents
Acknowledgments
Page ix
Illustrations
Figure 1. The four cosmic trees that were created to hold up the sky 16
after the deluge
Figure 2. The nine upper skies, the four lower skies, and the nine 17
levels of the underworld
Figure 3. The itinerary of the Mexica as told by Sahagun's 57
informants
Figure 4. Stela 1 of Xochicalco 65
Figure 5. Stela 3 of Xochicalco 67
Figure 6. Stela 2 of Xochicalco 69
Figure 7. The sinful gods and the Tamoanchan tree 87
Figure 8. The heavenly current of fire and the aquatic current of the 99
underworld form the helix malinalli
Figure 9. Two representations of the Tamoanchan tree 100
Figure 10. The meaning of chicnauhnepaniuhcan 109
Figure 11. Some of the characteristics of the Tamoanchan tree 111
according to different codices (I)
Figure 12. Some of the characteristics of the Tamoanchan tree 114
according to different codices (II)
Figure 13. Some of the characteristics of the Tamoanchan tree, 115
according to different codices (III)
Figure 14. The malinalli inside the trunk of one of the cosmic trees 117
Figure 15. The five cosmic trees: the one in the center and the four at119
Figure 15. The five cosmic trees: the one in the center and the four at119
the corners of the world
Figure 16. The location of the three groups studied 126
Figure 17. The "father" and "mother" ears of maize 142
Figure 18. The image of the goddess Nakawé 176
Figure 19. The cycles of agricultural production 194
Figure 20. Tlaloc's dominions 210
Figure 21. The four tlaloque of different colors support the sky 212
Figure 22. The setting Sun about to fall into Mother Earth's jaws 215
Figure 23. Four representations of Tepeyollotli 222
Figure 24. Ritual honoring Tlaloc 223
Figure 25. Four representations of Tlaloc 224
Figure 26. Teotihuacan Tlaloc from Tepantitla with quincunxes on 225
his head-dress