#readfolktales

[fairytalesandfolklore-blog1]

Is It You?

“Is It You?” a tale of Montezuma from the Nahua (Mexico), Latin American Folktales (Pantheon Folktale Series), edited by John Bierhorst.

A Spanish Marquis approaches Montezuma and asks, “Is it you?” Montezuma’s fame has preceded him. Montezuma says, “Yes, I am he.” He believes the Marquis to represent the return of an ancient god and king, so he welcomes him and says that he has seen his coming foretold in the mists and the clouds. He says that he has merely held the throne for a time until the god returned.

Considering that Montezuma’s kingdom fell to the Spanish, this is very chilling and poignant to read.

[fairytalesandfolklore-blog1]

The Return of Quetzalcoatl

“The Return of Quetzalcoatl,” a tale of Montezuma from the Nahua (Mexico), Latin American Folktales (Pantheon Folktale Series), edited by John Bierhorst.

A poor man tells Montezuma that he has seen something that looks like a large hill moving on the water. He is imprisoned for this tale because Montezuma thinks he is lying. Nonetheless, the king sends out noblemen to check things out, and they come back with the same tale. Later they understand the hill to be a large ship when they see men in smaller boats going back and forth to the ship. These men do not look like anyone they have seen before, though. They have pale skin and strange clothes. They speak a strange language.

They are the Spanish, but Montezuma and his people believe them to be heralds of the return of Quetzalcoatl. They treat them like gods and offer them food fit for gods and sing songs of Quetzalcoatl.

Montezuma could have used some of his warnings from the gods to tell him not to trust these strangers. This is a tale rather than a history, but it makes me want to read more about Montezuma to find out what we do know about Montezuma’s first encounters with the Spanish.

[fairytalesandfolklore-blog1]

Eight Omens

“Eight Omens,” a tale of Montezuma from the Nahua (Mexico), Latin American Folktales (Pantheon Folktale Series), edited by John Bierhorst.

This is a list of omens seen in the years before the Spanish arrived, foretelling the fall of Montezuma--comets, fires, lightening strikes, mysterious sounds of weeping, and other strange events. It’s really quite chilling.

[fairytalesandfolklore-blog1]

Montezuma’s Wound

“Montezuma’s Wound,” a tale of Montezuma from the Nahua (Mexico), Latin American Folktales (Pantheon Folktale Series), edited by John Bierhorst. 

In this lesson for the great king Montezuma, a poor man is swooped up by an eagle one day and carried to a mountain top where he meets the Lord of Creation. The Creator says he is there to deliver a message to Montezuma. He shows the man that Montezuma is drunk on his own power and pride. The Creator leads the man into an elaborate chamber where Montezuma is basically passed out drunk on power. He tells him to use a lit pipe to burn the sleeping form of Montezuma. The man is then sent home with instructions to deliver a message to the king that it is time to mend his ways. The proof that the message comes from the Creator will be Montezuma’s burn wound.

It’s hard to humble when you are king, but if you don’t want to be struck down by God, you’d better try.

[fairytalesandfolklore-blog1]

The Talking Stone

“The Talking Stone” a tale of Montezuma from the Nahua (Mexico), Latin American Folktales (Pantheon Folktale Series), edited by John Bierhorst.

In this tale, Montezuma discovers that there are mysteries beyond the power of even the greatest king. He wants a new stone for sacrificing prisoners. He wants the biggest and most beautiful stone to be found. He sends people out to find the perfect stone that will be a monument to his own greatness. They find just the right bolder. Stone cutters come in to chisel it into shape. It’s painted and decorated and blessed. They start trying to move it. That’s when things get weird. The stone starts talking and claiming it will not go on the journey. No matter how many ropes and levers and men they use to move the stone, they can’t budge it until it agrees to move. It does this in stages. They move it part way and stop several times until they read a lake. Halfway across the causeway, the stone announces that it will not go any farther. It sinks into the lake. Divers are sent to search for it, but they can find nothing. Later, when Montezuma sends people out to check the original spot the stone was taken from, it is back in it’s place, with its new shape and decorations and all.

The story comes with omens and warnings that Montezuma will not always be king, the even the time of kings comes to an end.

It’s a wonderful reminder of life’s mysteries. It’s a reminder that the spirit world and the natural world follow their own laws and are not subject to the governments of men.