I found this essay in a philosophy book and thought it would be interesting to discuss its implications. It's by H.L. Mencken.

"Where is the grave-yard of dead gods? What lingering mourner waters their mounds? There was a day when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus. But where in all the world is there a man who worships Jupiter today? And what of Huitzilopochtli? In one year – and it is no more than five hundred years ago – 50,000 youths and maidens were slain in sacrifice to him. Today, if he is remembered at all, it is only by some vagrant savage in the depths of the Mexican forest. Huitzilopochtli, like many other gods, had no human father; his mother was a virtuous widow; he was born of an apparently innocent flirtation that she carried on with the sun. When he frowned, his father, the sun, stood still. When he roared wit rage, earthquakes engulfed whole cities. When he thirsted he was watered with 10,000 gallons of human blood. But today [in 1921] Huitzilopochtli is as magnificently forgotten as Allen G. Thurman. Once the peer of Allah, Buddha, and Wotan, he is now the peer of General Coxey, Richmond P. Hobson, Nan Petterson, Alton B. Parker, Adelina Patti, General Weyler, and Tom Sharkey.

Speaking of Huitzilopochtli recalls his brother, Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca was almost as powerful: He consumed 25,000 virgins a year. Lead me to his tomb: I would weep, and hang a couronne des perles. But who knows where it is? Or where the grave of Quetzalcoatl is? Or Tialoc? Or Chalchihuitlicue? Or Xiehtecutli? Or Centeotl, that sweet one? Or Tlazoleotl, the goddess of love? Or Mictlan? Or Ixtililton? Or Omacatl? Or Yacatecutli? Or Mixcoatl? Or Xipe? Or all the host of Tzitzimitles? Where are their bones? Where is the willow on which they hung their harps? In what forlorn and unheard of hell do they away the resurrection morn? Who enjoys their residuary estates? Or that of Dis, whom Caesar found to be the chief god of the Celts? Or that of Tarves, the bull? Or that of Moccos, the pig? Or that of Epona, the mare? Or that of Mullo, the celestial jack-ass? There was a time when the Irish revered all these gods as violently as they now hate the English. But today even the drunkest Irishman laughs at them.

[…] You think I may spoof. That I invent names. I do not. Ask the rector to lend you any good treatise on comparative religion: You will find them all listed. They were gods of the highest standing and dignity – gods of civilizes peoples – worshiped and believed in by millions. All were theoretically omnipotent, omniscient, and immortal. And all are dead."

Tell me more about the maidens. Fuck the Gods, we're living in an age where only ignorant people worship Gods.

I thought Mencken was a science-fiction or fantasy author.

quote:Originally posted by sii:

Or Xipe?

Yikes. Xipe - the Flailed God, if am not mistaken.

One has to concede that the Aztec's pantheon was pretty freaky and completely suited to barbaric tastes.

Does anyone wonder that they and their civilization have been wiped out ?

quote:Originally posted by Uncus:

Yikes. Xipe - the Flailed God, if am not mistaken.

One has to concede that the Aztec's pantheon was pretty freaky and completely suited to barbaric tastes.

Does anyone wonder that they and their civilization have been wiped out ?

One would think if they had had the technology, considering their demeanor, it might be we who had been wiped out.

I wouldn't call them dead gods. Tlaloc, for instance, is still alive and kicking--so to speak--and he appreciates some attention now and then.

quote:Originally posted by Uncus:

One has to concede that the Aztec's pantheon was pretty freaky and completely suited to barbaric tastes.

Does anyone wonder that they and their civilization have been wiped out ?

Wiped out by the nice peaceful

christian conquistadors.

^Well said.

quote:Originally posted by ArmsMerchant:

I wouldn't call them dead gods. Tlaloc, for instance, is still alive and kicking--so to speak--and he appreciates some attention now and then.

So he does ?

And how does he manifest himself ?

quote:Originally posted by Viraljimmy:

Wiped out by the nice peaceful

christian conquistadors.

The conquistadors were soldiers. Nobody in his right mind would call them peaceful.

Anyway, those "peaceful christian conquistadors" wiped out those bloodthirsty Aztec (50,000 sacrificial victims in one year ; hearts ripped out of the living victim's chest).

[This message has been edited by Uncus (edited 11-10-2005).]

He was joking. Besides, the Conquistadors did what they must! It was all necessary to save the poor souls of the Aztecs.

It's not too often you see posts concerning the Aztec pantheon. Kudos for a great post IMO.

There is no doubt that the Aztec gods were pretty twisted in that they got fucked up, "consumed virgins" as was so eloquently put, and had countless other negative traits.

But as they are part of my culture (Yes, I am half Mexican), I thoroughly enjoy learning more about them. I even have a tattoo of Quetzalcoatl on my chest.

quote:Originally posted by Uncus:

So he does ?

And how does he manifest himself ?

Read "Plant Spirit Medicine" by Eliot Cowan. Everything he says about Tlaloc has been confirmed by my own experience.

quote:Originally posted by SurahAhriman:

One would think if they had had the technology, considering their demeanor, it might be we who had been wiped out.

Fuck technology. If the Spanish hadn't brought smallpox, the Aztecs had superior numbers and probably could have pulled it off. (Or if the Aztecs hadn't worshipped him as a God...but that's besides the point)

The spanish had steel swords whereas the Aztecs had tomohawk/hatchets that broke after a few blows. That's not even mentioning gunpowder. The Aztecs never had a chance.

quote:Originally posted by great_sage=heaven:

The spanish had steel swords whereas the Aztecs had tomohawk/hatchets that broke after a few blows. That's not even mentioning gunpowder. The Aztecs never had a chance.

Hernan Cortez had five hundred troops and fifteen horses. Tenochtitlan had a population with an estimated sixty to one hundred and thirty thousand inhabitants. If there had been an all-out battle, the Aztecs could have fought with feather boas and sea cucumbers and still won.

Just thought I would drop in my .02 as usual.

I always find it interesting to look at European history and their colonization of the globe. Seems that all the conquests and horrors of war were for England, France or Spain to claim land in the name of their king or whatever.

I may be lacking in knowledge on the subject but, how many of these conquests were done in the name of Jesus?

It seems that only until after the land was subdued by the said government did the evangelicals come and setup shop.

The advancement of man made secular government is much different then the advancement of the kingdom of God.

I'm not sure those things were done for the benefit of God but more for the benefit of Europe or whatever.

quote:Originally posted by Uncus:

Yikes. Xipe - the Flailed God, if am not mistaken.

One has to concede that the Aztec's pantheon was pretty freaky and completely suited to barbaric tastes.

Does anyone wonder that they and their civilization have been wiped out ?



The Spics happened.

quote:Originally posted by literary syphilis:

Hernan Cortez had five hundred troops and fifteen horses. Tenochtitlan had a population with an estimated sixty to one hundred and thirty thousand inhabitants. If there had been an all-out battle, the Aztecs could have fought with feather boas and sea cucumbers and still won.

Good point.

Feather boas and sea cucumbers"--I love it!

BTW, your reading should be coming up this week.