Las Soldaderas by Elena Poniatowska

Author:Elena Poniatowska
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781933693514
Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press
Published: 2016-07-18T00:00:00+00:00

When one tries to define the role of women in war, it’s never linked to mythical or legendary figures like Coyolxauhqui or Coatlicue (mother of the God of War). Instead the status of women warriors is reduced to the level of common maids for the soldiers. The first social structure in ancient Mexico was military—from which came the idea of Mother Earth as the Goddess of War.

Toci (the oldest Earth Mother of the Valley of Mexico) appears in the codex manuscripts with a shield in one hand and a broom in the other. Domestic labor complemented military labor.

Xóchitl (which is what they also called Jesusa Palancares) was a Toltec queen, who, in 1116, formed a battalion of women to defend her people.

The name of the Mexicas comes from Mecitli, which means “Grandmother of the Maguey,” the symbol of infinite fertility.

Coyolxauhqui and Huitzilopochtli (both sons of Coatlicue, the Earth Mother with her frightful serpent skirt) fought amongst themselves and the younger brother killed the woman warrior. The different versions of this story all coincide with women having lost their military power after Coyolxauhqui’s defeat.

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