The Myths of Mexico & Peru

by Lewis Spence

M

Macuilxochitl (or Xochipilli) (Five-Flower, Source of Flowers). God of luck in gaming, [103];
Ixtlilton called brother of, [112]

Madoc. The legend of, [5], [6]

Mahacutah (The Distinguished Name). One of the first men of the Popol Vuh myth, [229], [230]

Maize-gods. Mexican, [85]–91;
Peruvian, [295]

Mallinalcas. Aztec tribe, [233]

Mama Oullo Huaca. Wife of Manco Ccapac, [256]

Mama-cocha (Mother-sea). Conception under which the Peruvians worshipped the sea, [306]

Mamacota. Name given to Lake Titicaca by people of the Collao, [298]

Mamacuna. Matrons who had charge of the Acllacuna, in Peru, [313]

Mamapacha (or Pachamama). The Peruvian earth-goddess, [303]

Mamas (Mothers). Tutelary spirits of the maize and other plants in Peru, [295]

Mames. District in Guatemala, [158]

Man of the Sun. Quetzalcoatl as, [81];
other conceptions of, [83]

Manco. The Inca appointed by Pizarro; and an oracle, [302]–303

Manco Ccapac.
I. Divine being, son of the Life-giver; sent to instruct the primitive Peruvians, [255]–256;
a legend in connection with, [256].
II. The first Inca, identical with the foregoing, [282], [283];
regarded as son of the sun, [306];
a myth of, [320]–321

Mani. Mexican city, founded by the Tutul Xius, [155]

Mannikins. In the Kiche story of the creation related in the Popol Vuh, [209]–210

Markham, Sir Clements. On Inca architecture, [269]

Matlatzincas. Aztec tribe, [233]

Maxtla.
I. King of the Tecpanecs; and Nezahualcoyotl, [125]–128.
II. A noble; in the story of the vicious princess, [130]

Maya. The most highly civilised of ancient American peoples, [1], 143;
their culture erroneously stated to be of Asiatic origin, [1];
theory as to Toltec relationship, [143];
sphere of the civilisation, [144];
the nucleus of the civilisation, [144]–145, [149];
the dialects, [145];
origin of the race, [145];
their civilisation self-developed, [143], [146];
blood and cultural relationships with Nahua, [146]–147;
efforts at expansion, [147]–148;
climatic influence on the civilisation and religion, [148];
sources of their history, [148]–149;
division of the aristocratic and labouring classes, [150];
influence of the Nahua invasions, [151];
cleavage between Yucatan and Guatemala peoples, [151];
the Yucatec race, [151]–152;
incidents in migration myths represent genuine experience, [152];
the race in Guatemala, [157];
the writing system, [159]–166;
the manuscripts, [160]–161;
the numeral system, [165];
the mythology, [166]–169, [207]–247;
the calendar, [38], [39], [169];
the pantheon, [168], [170]–177;
architecture, [178]–198;
relationship of the mythology to that of the Nahua, [166];
Dr. Le Plongeon’s theories as to, [239]

Mayapan. City-state in Yucatan, [152];
rises into prominence, [153], [155];
overthrown by allies, [156]

Mayta Ccapac. The fourth Inca, [283]

Meahŭan, Mount. In the Kiche myth of Vukub-Cakix, [216]

Medicine-men. Account of the methods of, among Peruvians, [314]–315

Metztli (or Yohualticitl) (The Lady of Night). Mexican goddess of the moon, [106];
in myth of Nanahuatl, [93], [106]

Mexicatl Teohuatzin (Mexican Lord of Divine Matters). Head of the Aztec priesthood, [116]

Mexico.
I. The city; capital of the Aztecs, native name Tenochtitlan, [26], [47];
origin of the name, [73];
said to have been founded by Acolhuans, [26];
Huitzilopochtli and, [28], [73];
legends of the foundation of, [28]–29;
at the period of the conquest, [29]–30;
the annual “bloodless battle” with Tlascala, [48].
II. The state; the civilisation of, [1], [9];
possibly reached by early Norsemen, [5]

Mexico-Tenochtitlan. Native name of city of Mexico, [29]

Mexitli (Hare of the Aloes). A name of Huitzilopochtli, [74]

Mictecaciuatl. Wife of Mictlan, [96]

Mictlan (or Mictlantecutli) (Lord of Hades).
I. Mexican god of the dead and the underworld, [37], [76], [95]–96;
God A probably identical with, [173].
II. The abode of the god Mictlan; Mitla identified with, [198].
III. Village mentioned by Torquemada, [199]

Migration Myths. Probably reflect actual migrations, [234]–235

Mitla. Maya city, [31], [144];
ruins at, [197]–198;
identified with Mictlan, the Mexican Hades, [198];
description of, by Father Torquemada, [199];
description of, by Father Burgoa, [199]–206

Mixcoatl (Cloud Serpent). Aztec god of the chase, [110]–111;
Camaxtli identified with, [111]

Mixe. Aboriginal Mexican race, [24]

Mixteca. Aboriginal Mexican race, [23];
creation-myth of, [120]–121;
a medium through which Maya civilisation passed north, [147]

Moche. Place in Peru; sepulchral mound at, [271]

Mohanes (or Agoreros). Members of Peruvian tribes who claimed power as oracles, [297]–298, [314]

Moneneque (The Claimer of Prayer). A name of Tezcatlipoca, [67]

Montezuma II. Mexican emperor, native name Motequauhzoma; mentioned, [35], [44];
and the coming of Cortés, [7];
in the story of Tlalhuicole, [136]–137;
in the story of Princess Papan, [139]–142

Móo, Queen. The story of, [239]–247

Moon, The. Mythic mother of the Inca dynasty, [262];
temple of, at Cuzco, [261]–262;
wife of the sun, in the mythology of the Chibchas, [276]

Muluc. A minor Maya deity, [170]

Mummification. Among the Peruvians, [262]–264