[Aztlan] Island-Mainland Contact

[Jules Siegel]

john.pastore wrote:
> Jules Siegel wrote:
> 
>> ...I find the common translation of Cancun as "Nido de Viboras" absurdly demeaning.
> 
> "Absurd perhaps but why "demeaning"? Particularly when Kukulkan
> was depicted as a plumed serpent?

Because nido de viboras translates as nest of vipers. Vibora means any 
poisonous snake. Kukulkan is a rattlesnake, which would be translated as 
cascabel.

The New York Times took it even further and translated it as snake pit. 
In Cancun, nido de viboras is always used in a pejorative sense as a 
description. When I first got here in 1983, I was warned more than once 
by local residents (once in hushed tones) that Cancun means nido de 
viboras  -- in other words, be careful.

I don't think that nido de viboras has very much to do with the probable 
real meaning of Cancun, which would I would guess would be more or less 
"The Place of Can," which does refer to the rattlesnake that is so 
prominent in Mayan iconology and depicted in the Mexican seal.


--
JULES SIEGEL Apdo. 1764, 77501-Cancun, Q. Roo, Mexico
http://www.cafecancun.com/bookarts

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