[Aztlan] Did the Maya know...?

[Sam Edgerton]

Listeros: Regarding Donald Raab's innocent question about flying Aztec 
warriors, I'm reminded of that wonderful if tragic account in the 16th 
century  Annals of the Cakchiquels (Memorial de Solola) describing the 
fatal duel between K'ich'e super-hero Tecum Uman and Spanish conquistador 
Pedro Alverado during the decisive battle of Xalaju (near Quetzaltenango, 
Guatemala).  As Alverado advanced into K'ich'e territory with his Spanish 
forces in 1524, the Indian defenders found themselves in disarray because 
their captain, Tecum, like Greek Achilles at Troy, was pouting far away in 
his private tent. Finally, however, Tecum was aroused, and according to the 
indigenous Annals, "immediately put on wings...of  real feathers which 
sprang from his body... and his two arms and legs were covered with 
feathers.... and he flew up like an eagle"  From this aerial position as 
his native troops rallied on foot behind him, he attacked Alverado who was 
on horseback. Tecum struck first but only at the horse, decapitating it in 
one stroke, but Alverado quickly righted himself and stood again with lance 
at ready. Tecum flew up once more and descended toward Alverado attempting 
to strike him with his axe. Unfortunately, Alverado caught Tecum in midair 
with his lance, impaling and killing him instantly.  When the Indians saw 
their hero fall thus,  their morale collapsed and they fled the field with 
the Spanish in hot pursuit, slaughtering the defenders by the hundreds. No 
longer inspired by their flying commander, K'ich'e resistance dissipated 
and their nation quickly fell to the Spanish conquistadors.

It's interesting that the contemporaneous Spanish audiencia report of the 
same battle makes no mention of this confrontation, not a word about Tecum 
flying as an eagle. Perhaps we have here a good example for study by the 
new science of "perspectivism" which seeks to understand how two different 
cultures can envision the same event in totally different descriptive terms.

Sam Edgerton