I started chapter 6 of the Aztec handbook and the first few paragraphs made my proverbial ears perk up. Sometimes you just catch the vibe off a scholar and are like "yis this is a colorful voice. Needs the more. All the more."
Chapter 6 is The Creation, Rise, and Decline of Mexica Power and its author is Enrique Florescano. I gave him a quick Google and here's what I found.
YAS BOI.
Accessible published work for the public AND English translations?! ON BELIEF SYSTEMS AND CULTURE?! Yeah these are going on my list!
Now one doesn't just cannonball right into new nonfiction titles or authors. You gotta vet these folks. I did a cursory search and will do more but when the most that's said against the work is "quirky" and someone taking issue with the english translators tripping up on translating the Nahuatl passages, I think his work will be good to look into!
Also, in his extremely succinct summary of what must be LOADS of legend and lore, I find THIS NUGGET:
“During the process that forged the individuality of the Mexicas, the group again fragmented when they reached Lake Patzcuaro, where, according to Fray Diego Durán (1995:30), some migrants decided to settle on the lakeshore. In response, Huitzilopochtli ordered his followers to abandon them there under false pretenses, which they did immediately. Shortly thereafter, Huitzilopochtli ordered them to abandon his sister, Malinalxochitl, who was said to practice witchcraft and be a threat to the god’s followers.”
Who is this?! What does this mean?! What does this say about alternative female centered/censored worship and WHY WRITE IT THIS WAY?! I need more!
Now at least I have names and a trail to follow. Yaaaaaas!
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