On Pillars of Faith

            In Mesoamerica and the Andes there is one facet of the culture that is terribly fascinating. Despite the rise and fall of empires and petty chiefdoms, despite nearly constant warfare over several centuries, the pantheons of the people inhabiting these areas appear to have remained relatively intact. In the face of constant conquest one would expect conversion, but instead what seems to have happened is a sort of fusion.

            First, the example of Mesoamerica bears elaboration. Two principle deities seem to constantly appear and reappear: Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc. The Feathered Serpent and the Rain God appear as far back as Teotihuacan, possibly farther in the case of Quetzalcoatl (though his name changes in other languages). Some symbolism associated with the feathered serpent can be found as far in the past as the Olmec city of La Venta. To put that in perspective, let be remembered that La Venta was in its decline nearly two thousand years before the Mexica empire began its rise.

            This very nearly boggles the mind. It would appear that many Mesoamerican cultures shared the same pantheon, and though conquerors came at most they seem to have added a deity to the plethora that already existed. One example would be the Mexica deity Huitzilopochtli, which they seem to have brought with them when they came from the north into the Valley of Mexico.

            My knowledge of the Andes is less extensive, but it seems from what I’ve read that the local huaca of any given area may have stood for centuries, and upon conquest by the Inca and his armies it was simply inducted into the pantheon along with all the others.

            Is this significant? No idea. Is it fascinating? Absolutely.