Metáforas y transformaciones de la identidad en Mesoamérica: siglo XVI

Abstract

This article describes one of the first historic connotations of mestizaje in Mesoamerica. In contrast to the Mexica, the Mava
alwas considered the Spaniards as foreigners. The myth of tñe return of Quetzalcoatl was valid for the Mexica, but not for the Maya. We show that this myth was transformed into reality by Moteczuma and stress that the resolution of the mythical conflict was to assume that a first Quetzalcoatl-Cortés was a metaphorical transformation of a double historical idenlity advancing towards Tenochtitlan. In fact Moteczuma liberated himself by this means of the deep and primitive anixety of having taken a place that did not belong to him, but to Quetzalcoatl. He used a symbolic catharsis by granting Cortés godly at¡ibutes. This way he ended his histo¡ical anexiety and passed the blame on Cortés and his troops.