the-deadly-dance-pages_from_alcheringa_1-1_fall-1970-4.pdf

Original pages 32-33. Alcheringa 1-1

This is a short poem about an Aztec mythical ritual death ceremony. In this ceremony, both rich and poor Toltecs alike follow the loud wailing of the cryer to the city of Texcalpa. There, from sunset until half past midnight, they participate in a ceremony led by the local Shaman. Participants become so entranced by the Shaman's beating of the drum and chanting that they begin to dance in unison. At the climax of the Shaman's performance, many of the Toltecs unconsciously commit suicide by either jumping off the cliffs or off of the bridge and into the canyon depths. To kill off any of the Toltecs that did not jump, the Shaman then destroys the bridge they are standing on. All of the dead Toltecs magically turn to stone. Unfortunately, this poem depicts the end of the Toltec civilization.

According to Dictionary.com a Shaman is a person who acts as an intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to control spiritual entities.

According to Google, the Toltec were religious warriors who spread the cult of their god Quetzalcoatl to all corners of the Empire; they were broken down into groups representative of animals, such as the jaguar, and of their various gods. They resided in the Mesoamerican area of Mexico from 900-1150 AD, were accomplished sculptors and artists, practiced human sacrifice, and were revered and respected. Many of their characteristics were interwoven into Aztec society.

This poem appears in the first issue of Alcheringa, published in 1970.

Kissam, Edward

Original source referenced: Sahagún, Bernardo de. Historia general de las cosas de nueva España. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florentine_Codex

Online edition: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qk584fja/items?canvas=7

See: Volume 193801. Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España / por Fr. Bernardino de Sahagún, de la Orden de los frayles menores de la observancia.

Sahagún, Bernardino de, -1590. p. 274: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qk584fja/items?canvas=368

See also, World Library scan of the selection including Spanish and Nahua: https://www.wdl.org/en/item/10096/view/1/444/

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