Aztec mythology; Indian mythology -- Mexico; Mexico -- Religion
Mictlampa, “Region of the Dead,” also falls to be noticed in the
section on “heaven and hell.” Symbolically it is the region of drought.
THE SUPPORTERS OF THE HEAVENS
Just as we gain light upon the subject of the Mexican idea of the
universe from Maya sources, so do we find a similar correspondence in
the beliefs of the two races as regards the conception that the heavens
were supported by certain deities. Thus the Maya believed that the
heavens were upheld by four gods called Bacabs, and we find pictures in
the Mexican Codices which depict certain deities upholding both the
heavens and the earth. On sheets 49–52 of Codex Borgia (upper half) are
seen the gods of the four quarters and the four supporters of the sky,
which last are Tlauizcalpantecutli, the Sun-god, Quetzalcoatl, and
Mictlantecutli. On sheets 19–23 of Codex Vaticanus B the four upholders
of the heavens are given as Tlauizcalpantecutli, Uitzilopochtli,
Quetzalcoatl, and Mictlantecutli, and the four terrestrial gods as Xipe
Totec, Mictlantecutli, Xochipilli, and Centeotl. The first four are
shown upholding the starry firmament, so that we are left in no doubt
as regards the existence of such a conception as the support of the
heavens by certain gods. The close correspondence between the personnel
of the sky-bearers in the two MSS. proves a fairly universal acceptance
of the belief, especially as Xipe Totec, and Tonatiuh the Sun-god have
much in common. [72]
THE AZTEC HEAVENS
According to ancient Mexican belief various destinations awaited the
dead. Warriors slain in battle repaired to the region of the sun, where
they dwelt in bliss with the deity who presided over that luminary.
Sacrificed captives also fared thence. These followed the sun in his
daily course, crying aloud and beating upon their shields, and fighting
sham battles. “It is also said,” writes Sahagun in his History of the
Affairs of New Spain (Appendix to bk. iii, ch. 3), “that in this heaven
are trees and forests of divers sorts. The offerings which the living
of this world make to the dead duly arrive at their destination, and
are received in this heaven. After four years of sojourn in that place
the souls of the dead are changed into divers species of birds having
rich plumage of the most brilliant colours.” These were known as
tzintzonme [73] (“little bird which flies from place to place”), and
they flitted from blossom to blossom on earth as well as in heaven,
sucking the rich fragrance from the tropical blooms of the deep Valleys
of Anahuac. This region is the Ciutlampa, and perhaps the Tamoanchan
alluded to above.
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