Article suitable for Top Juniors and above

‘The Sinister Road: the Nine Levels of Mictlan’ by Gonzalo Zacaula Velázquez (8)

17th Apr 2023

Mexicolore contributor Gonzalo Zacaula Velázquez

Chapter 8...
The NOTES explain how the story fits - or doesn’t fit! - the illustrations and documented stages.

The pain dissipated, he felt he was floating again, he breathed deeply, the guide pulled his head out of the river, they swam a little at a time, following the gentle current.
‘Not far to go now, hang in there, we’ll soon be there…’
‘I feel extremely cold, I’m not sure if I’ll make it to the other side and all your efforts may be in vain.’
‘Don’t despair, friend, you’ve proved to be a brave warrior, don’t give up, look how far we’ve already come, not far now…’
‘Wow, that’s the first time I’ve heard you say something encouraging’, he said, smiling, ‘I thought you just saw me as a package, not as a friend.’

‘Yes, I don’t suppose I seem friendly, but if you knew how many people I’ve lost just because they didn’t follow my instructions...’
‘Your job must be pretty hard?’
‘Well you get used to it. It’s not that bad, especially when the crossing has a happy ending’.
‘I just hope this one has a happy ending… When we were being chased by those jaguars I felt I was going to die. Lucky they don’t go into water, or… do they?’ he quizzed his smiling guide.
‘Well actually they do swim very well, and they can hold their breath under water. But I doubt they’ll follow us, we have a bit of time, they’re too busy eating…’
‘Gosh, we should hurry then; incidentally, what are they eating?’
‘They’re eating… your heart.’

NOTES:-
• This eighth, penultimate phase in the journey to Mictlan is called in Nahuatl Teyollocualoyan (‘Where Someone’s Heart is Eaten’) in the Codex Vaticanus A-Rios
• The Florentine Codex calls it Chiconauhapan (‘Nine-River’); the two sources differ here completely. Sahagún includes the giant lizard Xochitonal in challenge no. 4
• Gonzalo’s story here is a follow-on from the previous chapter, referring to jaguars eating the deceased soul’s heart.
• So this chapter is a real mish-mash of story, textual references and imagery!

Picture sources:-
• Calendar sign graphic: illustration by Felipe Dávalos commissioned by Mexicolore
• Main illustration by Steve Radzi/Mayavision for Mexicolore
• Matrícula de Huexotzinco image downloaded from https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15282/?sp=215&st=image&r=-0.945,0,2.891,1.468,0.