File:The myths of Mexico and Peru (1913) (14803958963).jpg

Identifier: mythsofmexicoper01spen (find matches)
Title: The myths of Mexico and Peru
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Spence, Lewis, 1874-1955
Subjects: Indians of Mexico Indian mythology Indians of Mexico Indians of South America Indian mythology Indians of South America
Publisher: New York, T. Y. Crowell company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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that in whichthey lived, a mighty deluge had deprived the sun oflife, and some such catastrophe was apprehended atthe end of every sheaf of fifty-two years. The oldsuns were dead, and the current sun was no moreimmortal than they. Attheendof one of the sheaveshe too would succumb. Sustaining the Sun It was therefore necessary to sustain the sun by thedaily food of human sacrifice, for by a tithe of human lifealone would he be satisfied. Naturally a people hold-ing such a belief would look elsewhere than within theirown borders for the material wherewith to placate theirdeity. This could be most suitably found among theinhabitants of a neighbouring state. It thus becamethe business of the warrior class in the Aztec state tofurnish forth the altars of the gods with human victims.The most suitable district of supply was the puehlo ofTlaxcallan, or Tlascala, the people of which were ofcognate origin to the Aztecs. The communities had,although related, been separated for so many genera-98
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Ill o o ■>< ll OJ n § 8 < 2 « t-t D 1 ji OJ oT Id 43 ■3 h oi p; o c o 6 o aJ ■^1 (3 Z ^ o < S^ 3 a rt 3 c <u jG H SUSTAINING THE SUNtions that they had begun to regard each other astraditional enemies, and on a given day in the yeartheir forces met at an appointed spot for the purposeof engaging in a strife which should furnish one sideor the other with a sufficiency of victims for the pur-pose of sacrifice. The warrior who captured the largestnumber of opponents alive was regarded as the championof the day, and was awarded the chief honours of thecombat. The sun was therefore the god of warriors,as he would give them victory in battle in orderthat they might supply him with food. The rites ofthis military worship of the luminary were held inthe Quauhquauhtinchan (House of the Eagles), anarmoury set apart for the regiment of that name. OnMarch 17 and December i and 2, at the ceremoniesknown as Nauhollin (The Four Motions—alluding tothe quivering a

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