3 ETIOLOGICAL LEGENDS OF LATIN AMERICA - LITERATURE - 2025

The etiological legends are those that narrate the origin of elements inherent nature, such as rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, etc.

By definition, legends try to explain and justify the origin and reason for being of real elements. For this, fiction is used, introducing fictional or unreal details into the narrative.

Generally, they are based on individual characters to whom supernatural characteristics are often attributed as part of that recourse to fiction.

Legends are often reproduced through oral tradition. In many cases it is difficult to establish the origin of many of them until we reach our days.

They can be used for educational and informative purposes or to highlight famous people. In the case of etiological legends, there is a much closer link with the rural world, the countryside and agriculture.

Examples of etiological legends

The legend of the 'Origin of Cerro Prieto'

This etiological legend explains the origin of this Mexican volcano. Legend has it that a sorceress inhabited a cave in the Cerro Prieto area.

The Cucapá Indians were the original settlers of the Cerro. The sorceress had been killing them one by one inside her cave following magical rituals.

When only one last family was left alive, the sorceress killed the daughter. When her brother discovered it, he allowed himself to be dragged into the cave by her and once there, he killed her.

The entire family set fire to the body of the sorceress and from the fire, the ashes and the smoke the volcanic structure that makes up the Cerro Prieto arose.

The legend of the 'Origin of Mexico City'

This legend tries to explain, neither more nor less, the origin of the largest and most important city in Mexico.

According to this etiological account, the Aztecs wandered for more than a century in search of the land that had been promised to them by the God Huitzilopochtli.

Once they reached the Valley of Mexico, they discovered a large spring surrounded by fountains, white willows and white reeds. Frogs and white fish began to come out of the water, and the Aztecs were convinced that they had reached their destination.

So they decided to wait for their God to give them instructions. God indicated to them the place where they should find an eagle that, in effect, they found.

Thus they learned, through the mouths of several priests present, that this was the promised place, the wonderful land that they should populate and name Tenochtitlán.

The legend of cenote Zaci

Cenotes are wells of water, known by that name in Mexico. They arise from the erosion of limestone. Zaci was a place where two young lovers lived.

Her name was Sac-Nicte and he, Hul-Kin. As their families were at odds, the young man's father sent him to another village and he was forced to marry another young woman.

Her mother, a sorceress, used various spells to bring him back, to no avail. Distressed, the young woman jumped into the well one night with a stone tied around her neck.

In the distance, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, returned to his village and jumped into the well with her, both of them drowning.

References

1. The Legend of the Foundation of Tenochtitlán on Inside Mexico, at inside-mexico.com
2. Myths & Legends on Inside Mexico, at inside-mexico.com
3. The Lost City of Aztlan - Legendary Homeland of the Aztecs on Ancient Origins, at ancient-origins.net
4. The Myths of Mexico and Peru, by Lewis Spence. Cosimo Classics, New York. (2010).
5. Tenochtitlán: Legend of Aztec Capital on LiveScience, at livescience.com/34660-tenochtitlan.html.