File:The myths of Mexico and Peru (1913) (14597398540).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

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
inNahua myth, and in many ways their characteristicswere blended. It was Metztli who led forth Nanahuatlthe Leprous to the pyre whereon he perished—areference to the dawn, in which the starry sky of nightis consumed in the fires of the rising sun. Tlazolteotl Tlazolteotl (God of Ordure), or Tlaelquani (Filth-eater), was called by the Mexicans the earth-goddessbecause she was the eradicator of sins, to whose prieststhe people went to make confession so that they mightbe absolved from their misdeeds. Sin was symbolisedby the Mexicans as excrement. Confession coveredonly the sins of immorality. But if Tlazolteotl wasthe goddess of confession, she was also the patroness ofdesire and luxury. It was, however, as a deity whosechief office was the eradication of human sin that shewas pre-eminent. The process by which this was sup-posed to be effected is quaintly described by Sahagun inthe twelfth chapter of his first book. The penitentaddressed the confessor as follows : Sir, I desire to106
Text Appearing After Image:
The Penitent addressing the Fire William Sewell TLAZOLTEOTL approach that most powerful god, the protector of all,that is to say, Tezcatlipoca. I desire to tell him my sinsin secret. The confessor replied : Be happy, myson : that which thou wishest to do will be to thygood and advantage. The confessor then opened thedivinatory book known as the Tonalamatl (that is, theBook of the Calendar) and acquainted the applicant withthe day which appeared the most suitable for his con-fession. The day having arrived, the penitent providedhimself with a mat, copal gum to burn as incense, andwood whereon to burn it. If he was a person high inoffice the priest repaired to his house, but in the caseof lesser people the confession took place in thedwelling of the priest. Having lighted the fire andburned the incense, the penitent addressed the fire inthe following terms : Thou, lord, who art the fatherand mother of the gods, and the most ancient of themall, thy servant, thy slave bows before thee. We

Note About Images