A Legend of Love Aug 5

Listen and follow:

Read the complete topic:

Mexico has the two tallest volcanoes in the southern hemisphere. They are the Popocatepetl and the Iztaccihuatl. There are several legends that explain how these magnificent mountains came into existence. But the one story that keeps passing from generation to generation is the one you are about to hear.

Thousands of years ago when the Aztec Empire dominated the Valley of Mexico the Tlaxcalan were one of the very few independent people. The Aztecs had conquered almost all the neighboring towns. In those days it was a common practice for the Aztecs to subject surrounding peoples to demand mandatory tax from them. In addition to this, when the Aztecs fought with rebel towns such as the Tlaxcalan, they took prisoners of war to be used in their sacrificing rites. The Aztecs believed that offering human sacrifices to their Gods would keep the sun coming out and help other processes to maintain life.

It was then that the chief of the Tlaxcaltecas who had fought the Aztecs for the longest time, and was weary of ending under their terrible oppression, decided to fight to maintain his people’s freedom. The chief had a daughter named Iztaccihuatl: the most beautiful of all the princesses, who had professed her love for young Popocatepetl, one of her father’s people and the most handsome and brave warrior. 

Both professed a deep love for each other, so before leaving for war, Popocatepetl asked the chief for the hand of Princess Iztaccihuatl. The father gladly agreed and promised to welcome him back with a big celebration to give him his daughter’s hand when he returned victorious from the battle. The brave warrior accepted, prepared everything and departed, keeping in his heart the promise that the princess would be waiting for him to consummate their love once he came back. 

Soon afterward, a love rival of Popocatepetl, who was jealous of the love they professed for each other, told Princess Iztaccihuatl that her beloved had died in combat. Crushed and overwhelmed by sadness, the princess died without even knowing that it was a lie. 

Popocatepetl returned victorious to his people, hoping to find his beloved princess. Upon arrival, he received the terrible news of the death of Iztaccihuatl. Devastated by the news, he wandered about the streets for several days and nights, until he decided he had to do something to honor her love and to assure the princess would not ever be forgotten. 

Popocatepetl ordered a great tomb to be built under the sun, piling ten hills together to form a huge mountain. He carried the body of his Princess in his arms, took her to the summit and laid her on the great mountain. The young warrior lovingly kissed her cold lips, took a smoking torch and knelt in front of his beloved princess to watch over her eternal sleep. 

From then on they remain together, facing each other. Over time, snow covered their bodies forming two enormous volcanoes that would remain together until the end of time. The legend goes on to say that when the warrior Popocatepetl remembers his beloved princess and his heart, that preserves the fire of eternal passion, shakes, his torch smokes. That’s why, even today; the Popocatepetl volcano continues spewing fumaroles.