Translating Gods: Tohil and Curicaueri in Mesoamerican Polytheism

What is it about?

Although it was common in Mesoamerica to adopt foreign deities from other pantheons, less is known about the processes of “translating” foreign deities as a function of the divinities’ attributes. This article analyzes the degree of intelligibility among pre-Hispanic K’iche’, P’urépecha, and Nahua peoples based on the study of patron gods Tohil and Curicahueri and their possible equivalents in the Central Highland pantheon. We can see that the search for divine homologous on the part of Mesoamerican peoples implies, beyond cultural homogeneity, an ongoing exchange of information, as well as recognition of the religion of the “other” based on equal standing, which tends to be a characteristic of polytheistic peoples in general.

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Why is it important?

The search for divine homologous on the part of Mesoamerican peoples implies, beyond cultural homogeneity, an ongoing exchange of information, as well as recognition of the religion of the “other” based on equal standing, which tends to be a characteristic of polytheistic peoples in general.