The Legend and the Image

The Legend and the Image

Introduction

Since pre-Hispanic times, Tepeyac had been a center of religious devotion to the people of the Valley of Mexico. In this geographical eminence located in what was the western bank of Lake Texcoco was the most important sanctuary of divinity Nahua land and fertility. This goddess was called Coatlicue ( Nahuatl : coatl-cueitl, "Lady of the Serpent Skirt") , which was also known as Teteoinan ( Nahuatl : teotl-nan, "god-mother," "Mother of the gods ") or Tonantzin ( Nahuatl : to-nan-tzin, "Our venerable little mother") . The temple of Tonantzin Coatlicue was completely ...