Recomended
Reading:| Alternate Mesoamericas |
|---|
Jonathan Edelstein
Aztec Empire |
| ©1996 by Jonathan Edelstein |
| Visitors to Tenochtitlan may enjoy the city's
striking architecture, and the shopping the various marketplaces
is unparallelled. Travellers are warned, however, *not* to accept
any invitations to participate in Aztec religious ceremonies.
(From the Travel Guide to the Aztec Empire) |
"That goes Doubly so for young virgin women. If asked say that you're
married or you've had your innocence stolen. Better thought of as
unvirtous than a potential sacrifice. Especially avoid solstices and
equinoxes, then they might not even care, and neither the Texas nor the
American Embassies can do anything to help in those cases!
Although you might beware,some unscrupulous Aztec men pretend to be
Priests seeking Virgins so their friends can deflower women in order to
"save" them!"
Steve (East Florida,near the Seminole Commonwealth)
©1996 by Steve Voss"This old chestnut has come up again? The Aztecs do not sacrifice young virgin women, no, they sacrifice criminals, prisoner of war, and tribute in the form of other prisoners of war sent to them from their vassal states.
Also, Christian Missionaries are forewarned to stay out of the borders of the Aztec Empire, as they go up on the cutting block quite freely.
It is interesting to note that there is a Christian underground within the Aztec Empire. The thirst for religious freedom burns brightly within the confines of the Empire. Still it is an underground movement, due more in part from the zeal of the European praticioners, than in the religion itself. The Aztecs are quite tolerant of the Jewish and Islamic people living there, but to be a Christian, you have to prove you are not there to convert the heathen masses.
The other problem with the Aztec Christian Underground, is the way they pratice the Christian religion. Since they haven't had much in the way of contact with real priests, they make do with bastardize translations of the Bible, that have many mistranslations and out and out falsities inside them. Thus, when they have Communion, the Blood of Christ is literally human blood, donated from the membership. The Body of Christ isn't a communion wafer, but human flesh, sometimes stripped from the bodies of new converts, other times, it is gathered during the circumcision of young boys earlier on in the service. Needless to say, there is much troubled thought on what will happen when this newest of the Christian groups joins the mainstream.
Kedamono, of the Regional Interdimensional Transit Authority.
©1996 by Kedamono
Recomended
Reading:The Aztecs : Rise and Fall of an Empire (Discoveries
Series)
by Serge Gruzinski, Paul G. Bahn (Translator)
Synopsis:
Explores the complex aspects of the ancient Aztec civilization, its artistic and cultural achievements, its bloody religion, and its history--from earliest times to its collapse with the arrival of the Spanish in the New World. Original.
Mayan Empire |
| ©1996 by Kedamono |
"In spring, visitors to Tikal can participate in the Festival
of Ah Mun, the god of
maize. The pageantry of the this all important Mayan festival
will draw you deeper
into this most interesting of cultures. The people are friendly,
and are willing to
indulge tourists up to point. The point is one of sacrilege.
More than one festival has nearly been ruined by a well meaning,
but misguided
individual, who mistakenly tries to stop the ritual sacrifice
of a criminal or slave.
The Maya do not take this lightly, and it is quite possible that
you'll end up as the
next sacrifice.
But, watching is also not an option. Mayan religious practices
are a interactive set.
Hallucinogenic drugs, balche, an intoxicating drink made
from honey and the bark
of the balche tree, ololiuhqui, and other herbs
and plant extracts will be... given to
you. It will be expected that you take them, so do so, just keep
your detox pacs handy
for afterwards, because you're going on a little trip. Smokers
are warned to stay away
from Mayan cigars, as the nicotine level in them is enough to
induce hallucinations.
As pointed out, the climax of the festival will be the sacrifice
of a criminal or slave,
as well as a blood offering of the current ruling monarch of Tikal,
9 Jaguar. The
human sacrifice is done in the traditional method, with obsidian
daggers, with
the sacrifice bound prostrate on the alter.
When 9 Jaguar gives his sacrifice, do not be alarmed if several
Maya around
spontaneously shed blood from themselves too, either by piercing
their genitals
with knives or needles, or running a barbed cord through their
tongues. If you
decide to join in, please use the sterile needles in your kit,
provided for this eventuality."
From the Tikal Chamber of Commerce's "Welcome to Tikal"
guidebook.
Recomended
Reading:Lost Cities of the Maya (Discoveries Series)
by Sydney Picasso, Claude-Francois Baudez
Synopsis:
Culled from a variety of sources, the rare photographs, documents, paintings, and drawings in this history of America's famous pyramid builders answers some of the most puzzling questions about the Mayan civilization. Original.
The Underground of Our Lady of Guadalupe |
|
©1998 Christian Manacmul |
To avoid persecution from the Aztecs, Spanish Christians who attempted to stay and settle in the failed New Spain colony went underground. Many of them were scattered all over the Empire, practicing Christianity as their church leaders saw fit. Everything looked bleak for the Aztec Christian Church until something miraculous was said to have occurred in December of 1531. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the Spaniard, Bishop Zumarraga and members of his underground church four times. During these apparitions, the Virgin told Zumarraga to relay her message, saying that it was from her Son Jesus, to other hiding Christians in the Empire.
This message was a message of encouragement and hope to the 'Holy Aztec Christian Church.' The Lady of Guadalupe, by the power of God and love of Christ, would become the protector and mother of her persecuted children in the Empire. The Virgin also commanded Zumarraga to build a temple in her honor inside the very spot (outside of Tenochtitlan) where she appeared to Zumarraga and his fellow Christians.
Zumarraga and the other Christians proceeded to proclaim the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe not only to other Christians within the Empire but in public as well. Those proclamations were received with mixed results. Zumarraga, showing his cloak with a life-size figure of the Virgin on it, was able to convince other Christians in the Empire and convert a few Aztecs, the most famous of these converts being the humble Juan Diego (his Christian name). Juan Diego, spreading the Gospel and the Virgin's message, was able to win some of his fellow Aztecs to the faith before being stoned to death by an intolerant and violent Aztec mob, who saw the Lady of Guadalupe apparitions as an insult and threat to the Empire. The stoning of Juan Diego temporarily discouraged the new 'iglesia mestiza', but the Underground Temple of Our Lady of Guadalupe was built on the intended spot and serves as a place of inspiration to Christians worldwide. The Aztec rulers, convinced that it was the Aztec goddess Tonantzin who appeared to Bishop Zumarraga, took the apparitions as a sign from Tonantzin to stop their persecution of the Christians.The harshest of the previous attacks on Christians eventually stopped despite the uneasiness that still exists today between Aztecs and Christians.
Today, the Underground Temple of Our Lady of Guadalupe is considered a safe haven for visiting Christians. It features beautiful Spanish church architecture, highlighted by a mural commemorating the aforementioned events. The memories of St. Bishop Zumarraga and St. Juan Diego are also honored with special feast days in the Temple. The Temple is opened to tourists on most days, except during Mass (although attendance is more than welcomed). Reservations must be booked due to the high demand for a visit to the Temple.