I loved the description of the Aztec beliefs described in the Ancient Voices video. As someone with an intense interest in cultural histories, the Aztec reverence of Tenochtitlan strikes me on a personal level. The Mexica were entranced by the ancient civilization - its art, architecture, religion - everything there was to be discovered. Not only did they use the temples of Tenochtitlan as their own capital, they completely accepted the gods depicted therein, continuing ancient beliefs and practices, which, though years and years older than the new Mexica civiliza
tion, suited their society and trancended time. Studying other cultures to me is the ultimate path to better understand yourself and other humans, past and present. As the novelist in the video, Carlos Fuentes , said "The whole conception of the world of the Aztecs is so alien from our own modern concept of the world that we can only guess..." I'm thankful to have to opportunity to guess.
I really enjoyed your post. Your comments on how the Mexica were somehow following in the paths of (or entranced by) their own ancient civilizations are very thoughtful. Life is a mystery...
ReplyDeletebeautifully stated Nicole...Carlos Fuentes has been by far, one of my favored writers.
ReplyDeleteI have always been told, by people who have played a great part in my life, that fiction is often the best way to get acquainted with the psychology of man's soul...That devoid from history and non-fiction which are to be based on what we call "truth" and "facts"...what constitutes one's stories and way of looking at the world does not abide by what is believed to be necessarily "truth" or "fact."
Some of the most intrinsic things in each of our lives: beliefs, memories, dreams, stories are not necessarily grains of fact...yet they nonetheless constitute our very being, our concept of the world, our soul.