Abstract

MENDEZ GOMEZ, David. The inquisition of Tlalhuacpan: cult of rain among otomíes of the Mezquital. Cuicuilco. Rev. cienc. antropol. [online]. 2023, vol.30, n.88, pp.193-214.  Epub Apr 08, 2024. ISSN 2448-8488.

The process of indians of Tlalhuacpan is an inquisitorial document of the early sixteenth century, where it is narrated to have found a pair of otomíes indians by the colonial authorities, making self-sacrifices to their ancient pre-hispanic deities. The purpose of this article is to analyze the personages and actions that were carried out in this ritual to understand its importance among the otomíes populations, an area that is currently known as Valle del Mezquital. This document is examined through an ethnohistorical analysis, in which different written sources such as ethnographic, archaeological and historical are confronted, in order to understand the relation that this ritual had for social maintenance, with the hope of having good harvests and propitiating the rains.

Keywords : inquisitorial document; cult of rain; historical otomies; otomi rituality; worldview otomi.