[Aztlan] Province of Amichel (Am Ix Chel?)

[Gary Daniels]

When Alonzo Álvarez de Pineda explored the Gulf Coast from peninsular
Florida to Veracruz in 1519, the territory was named Amichel. The name is
known from only two sources: the royal patent granted Francisco de Garay
(Álvarez's sponsor) to settle the region and a map known as the Cortés map,
published in 1524.

Garay launched two efforts to establish a colony in Amichel. An error in the
historical literature has placed these attempts at the mouth of the Rio
Grande. Actually, they were on the Río Pánuco. Both ended in abject failure.
The colony he sought to establish there was destroyed shortly afterward in a
Huastec uprising that cost Álvarez his life.

Does anyone have any idea why the entire gulf coast region was named
Amichel? I know the Mayan moon goddess was known as Ix Chel (ee-shell)-
could this be the connection? If so why was the entire province from
southwest Florida to the Panuca River in Mexico named Amichel? Is there
evidence of a widespread cult of the Moon Goddess in this area?

-Gary C. Daniels
http://www.LostWorlds.org