Legend of the Volcanoes

Legend of the Volcanoes

The legend of the volcanoes of the Valley of Mexico

There are numerous versions of the mexican legend that narrates the origin of the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, both located in the Valley of Mexico, in the central region of the country. The origin of these legends goes back to Mexica mythology, that is, to the religion and conception of the world of the ancient Aztecs.

The most widespread of these versions establishes that Popocatepetl was a handsome young warrior Aztec, who was in the service of Tezozomoc, the father of Iztaccíhuatl, the most beautiful princess ever view. And as is natural in these cases, it was enough for the warrior and the princess to meet for them to fall madly in love.

At that time, the Aztecs were in the middle of a bloody war with their Tlaxcala enemies, for which Tezozomoc promised the hand of her daughter to Popocatepetl under the condition that she go to Oaxaca and return with the head of an enemy spear. The young warrior, famous in his village for his unparalleled bravery, accepted the challenge and left for the foreigner to win not only the victory for his people, but also the right to join his beautiful in love.

However, during his absence, one of Popocatepetl's many rivals, who envied his strength and his good fortune in war, spread the word. News that the young man had died in combat. The rumor eventually reached Iztaccíhuatl's ears and broke his heart into pieces. The princess then plunged into such a depression that soon her life left her body, so that on his return, victorious and full of glory, Popocatepetl found himself only with his corpse.

Sadness then blackened the spirit of the young warrior, who spent several days and nights mourning the death of his beloved and thinking of the best way to pay homage to her. Finally, he brought his body to the top of an immense Mountain and he deposited it on the summit in a bed of eternal white flowers, and lighting a torch, he swore to veil the body of his beloved forever.

Moved by this gesture, the gods decided to turn them into volcanoes: a sleeping volcano for the deceased princess and an active volcano for the warrior of indefatigable love. And that is the reason, according to legend, that from time to time Popocatepetl remembers his love and trembles and releases fire for the airs, since his vigil continues, while the Iztaccihuatl remains impassive, asleep and wrapped in his blanket of snow eternal.

Other versions of the legend

Since there are no ancient texts that collect an original version of the legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, it has been due to be transmitted orally from generation to generation and thus numerous variations and versions have arisen in Mexico modern.

Some of them affirm that they were not Aztec citizens, but Tlaxcalans or other similar pre-Columbian peoples, while that others vary as to the details of the transformation of the lovers into volcanoes, involving a sorcerer or priest. Even, in other versions, it is Iztaccíhuatl's own father who spreads the false news of Popocatépetl's death, since he did not agree with giving her his daughter, or he does it because Iztaccihuatl was destined to be sacrificed to the gods.

References:

• "Legend" in Wikipedia.
• "Legend of the volcanoes" in Wikipedia.
• "The volcanoes of Izta and Popo and their legend" in National Geographic.
• "The legend of the volcanoes" in Good Trip Magazine.

What is a legend?

The legends they are a type of narration that lacks an author and no known original version, that are transmitted from generation to generation, especially orally, and that tell events supernatural, fantastic or religious, located in a very specific place and time in real history, which contributes to making them more credible.

It is one of the most common forms of traditional storytelling, especially in rural and popular culture, which reflects in some way the values and the traditions of the population in which it arises, since the legends are usually typical of a specific country, region or locality.

Legends survive the passage of time by changing their content and adapting to new generations, who cover it and adapt it to their way of life or, on the contrary, let it lose.

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