Base – Mount Tlaloc: The Mexica Ritual Landscape

Geographic background

2,980m (9777 ft)

Mount Tlaloc is tucked between the greater Sierra Nevada Volcanic Range which includes Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl, and Telapón. Mount Tlaloc is the tallest peak with an altitude over 13,500 feet. Mount Tlaloc was believed to be an earthly replica of the mythic Tlalocan - a Mexica afterlife ruled over by Tlaloc.

Maybe not so fun fact
There is a legend that the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl mountains were originally two Nahua lovers. Popocatépetl was a warrior who went off to war, promising to return a victor and worthy of marrying the Princess Iztaccíhuatl. A jealous rival told the Princess that the warrior had died and she died of grief. The warrior returned, heartbroken as he learned about the death of his lover. He took her body, placing it outside of Tenochtitlan, and kneeled beside her, guarding her for eternity. The gods covered them in snow and changed them into mountains. Iztaccíhuatl is known as “the Sleeping Woman,” and Popocatépetl is known as “the Smoking Mountain,” who remains active and expressing his anger through fire.

There is a legend that the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl mountains were originally two Nahua lovers. Popocatépetl was a warrior who went off to war, promising to return a victor and worthy of marrying the Princess Iztaccíhuatl. A jealous rival told the Princess that the warrior had died and she died of grief. The warrior returned, heartbroken as he learned about the death of his lover. He took her body, placing it outside of Tenochtitlan, and kneeled beside her, guarding her for eternity. The gods covered them in snow and changed them into mountains. Iztaccíhuatl is known as “the Sleeping Woman,” and Popocatépetl is known as “the Smoking Mountain,” who remains active and expressing his anger through fire.

Beginning of the Pilgrimage

The tlahtoque met here. These were the rulers of the most prominent altepetls: Tenochtitlan, Tlacopan, Xochimilco, and Tetzcoco. There were various points of access to the summit, as well as many trails leading up to the summit. However, Codex Borbonicus suggests the ascent began along the western slope. Folio 25 illustrates the initial meeting between the tlahtoque at the base of the mountain, also pictured here.

References

Cadoux, Anita, Yves Missenard, Raymundo G Martínez-Serrano, and Hervé Guillou. “Trenchward Plio-Quaternary Volcanism Migration in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt: The Case of the Sierra Nevada Range.” Geological Magazine 148, no. 3 (January 28, 2011): 492–506. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0016756810000993.
Campos, Regina. “Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl: The Tragic Love Story.” Lolo - Modern Mexican Mercadito, February 7, 2023. https://lolomercadito.com/blogs/news/popocatepetl-and-iztaccihuatl-a-love-story?srsltid=AfmBOopDCGsGtRaKvyKee2wPx1oTRv4HckPQdtebVrGnCNGJNPUl9wmR.
Famsi.org. “FAMSI - Bibliothéque Du Palais Bourbon - Codex Borbonicus (Loubat 1899),” 2026. https://www.famsi.org/research/loubat/Borbonicus/thumbs0.html.