 Olmec-Xicalanca Cacaxtla, Jaguar Knight Mural | |
| Languages | |
|---|---|
| Classical Nahuatl, among others | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Nahuas, Chontal Maya, Chʼol people |
The Olmeca-Xicallanca, also known as the Historic Olmecs, were a people that dominated parts of central Mexico during the epiclassic period (after the seventh century), originating from the south of Veracruz and the west of Tabasco. They should not be confused with the preclassic Olmec culture, although it is possible that they originate from the same geographic area.[1]
Legendary accounts
According to legend, the Olmeca-Xicallanca came from Chicomoztoc and are descended from Iztac Mixcoatl who had six sons with his wife Ilancueitl. Each son settled a region of Mexico. The third and fourth, Ulmecatl and Xicalancatl, were the ancestors of the Olmeca-Xicallanca. They crossed mountains and volcanos to settle in Cuernavaca, Chalco and Cholula. However, a northern origin of the Olmeca-Xicallanca has been doubted, and it was perhaps invented on the basis of them speaking the Nahuatl language.[2]
Cacaxtla
The Olmeca-Xicallanca are believed to be the builders of Cacaxtla in what is now the state of Tlaxcala.[3]
Cacaxtla is known for its impressive murals, some of the most extensive and well-preserved in Mesoamerica.[4][5]
References
- Kubler, George (1968). "La traza colonial de Cholula". Estudios de historia novohispana (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 September 2024.
- Testard, Juliette (6 October 2017). "Arqueología, fuentes etnohistóricas y retóricas de legitimización: un ensayoreflexivo sobre los olmecas xicalancas". Anales de Antropología (in Spanish). 51 (2). doi:10.1016/j.antro.2016.11.004.
- Lins, Mario; Uranga, Emilio (1946). "Los Límites de la Actuación del Líder". Revista Mexicana de Sociología (in Spanish). 8 (2): 195–212. Archived from the original on 21 May 2026.
- Foncerrada de Molina, Marta (January 1983). "Los murales de Cacaxtla: muerte en la guerra". Jahrbuch für Geschichte Lateinamerikas (in Spanish). 20 (1). doi:10.7767/jbla.1983.20.1.537. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022.
- Foncerrada de Molina, Marta (1976). "La pintura mural de Cacaxtla, Tlaxcala" (PDF). Anales UNAM (in Spanish). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2023 – via Semantic Scholar.
Bibliography
- Diego Muñoz Camargo, Historia de Tlaxcala, 16th century
- David Drew, The lost chronicles of the maya kings, Phoenix, London, 2000
- Fernando De Alva Ixtlixóchitl, Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca, codex, 16th century
- John Eric Thompson, Historia y religión de los mayas, Mexico, 1975