History and Mythology of the Aztecs: The Codex Chimalpopoca

by John Bierhorst

Bierhorst, John

Genres: History, Mythology, Nonfiction

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

John Bierhorst is the author, editor, or translator of more than thirty books on Native American lore, including Latin American Folktales, The Mythology of South America, The Mythology of North America, and The Mythology of Mexico and Central America.

Reviews

[Shane Ver Meer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating descent into the histories of the Nahua-Mexica peoples. The names of people and places can get incredibly confusing, rather quickly (this work prompted some note-taking); however, the narrative is repetitive in nature and this helps alleviate somewhat. Many interesting cultural facets are revealed throughout the work. I was fascinated by the address of rulers as "child" and the term grandfather being diminutive. Additionally, the role women played in their society is interesting (I won't spoil anything here but there are some startling stories). The story of Ce Acatl, too. And The Legend of the Suns!

I'm barely scratching the surface here, but the historical record keeping on display, assisted by the advanced astrological knowledge and sophisticated calendar system of Mesoamericans at large, is a door into a past where relatively few records survived (via the destruction of records not just by Spaniards, but by the Aztecs in their ascent to dominate the Valley of Mexico).

If you are interested in the subject of Aztec/Nahua history and myth, then this work will be an essential part of the journey.

[Sophia Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good but it was a lot of place and people names. It was hard to pay attention and I found myself zoning out a bit. I enjoyed the parts about Tezozomotzli because I thought he was interesting. I also loved any time they mentioned a historical figure that I recognised from Fifteen Poets of the Aztec World. The second part, about the mythology, was much shorter than the first (historical) part. Both revealed a lot about Aztec culture, especially how organised and detailed they are with recording events. I think Bierhorst also did a good job translating.

[Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

History of Tenochitlan and its surrounding cities and peoples. The myth of the five suns and other myths.

[Lulu]

Codex Chimalpopoca is composed of three parts unrelated to each other. The third part, called Leyenda de los Soles, 10 pages, 1558. The text appears on internal evidence to be the redaction of a specific performance event or, more likely, sequence of events by an unknown Mexica Aztec speaker and recorded by an unknown amanuensis, from a lost pictographic manuscript (or manuscripts) beginning on the date mentioned in the prologue, "today, the 22nd of May, 1558". The final lines of the text refer to the arrival of "the Marqués," who is Cortés, in Mexico "forty-two years ago" which would give a date of 1561 for this final entry. The bulk of the performance(s), however, must have been on or close to the first date. The Codex ChimalPopoca is a 17th century copy of the original redaction. This text a fundamental witness to indigenous Nahua-Mexica memories of their own cosmogony and earliest history as they recalled these things some twenty-five-pIus years into the colonial era The narrative frame of this retelling makes it clear that by 1558 these memories had become "fabIes," tales, fictions -a mythology-. this witness record gives itself the name: Tlarnachiliztlatolraranilli, "Wisdom-Discourse Fables."

The first part, is called Anales de Cuauhtitlan ca. 1570-73. The content is primarily historical. It nevertheless also contains a brief version of the Leyenda de los Soles.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential for the student of Nahua culture. Great translation.