MEXICO CITY.- A fascinating new book is shedding light on the ancient origins of La Atlanchana, a mythical serpent-woman figure deeply embedded in Mexican folklore. Titled La Atlanchana de Metepec. Genealogía de un mito chichimeca (The Atlanchana of Metepec: Genealogy of a Chichimeca Myth), the book was recently launched at the 12th University Book Fair at the Autonomous Metropolitan University, Iztapalapa Unit (UAM-I).


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Unraveling a Mysterious Aquatic Deity

Published by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the book is the work of INAH researchers Patricia Cruz Sarmiento and Jesús Evaristo Sánchez Sánchez. It dives deep into the lore of this aquatic deity, described as a supernatural being that's part woman and part serpent, though some accounts even suggest she's half-axolotl.


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The publication is a comprehensive collection, gathering an impressive 49 different versions of the legend. Most of these tales were compiled from communities stretching from Metepec, Amanalco, and Valle de Bravo in the State of Mexico, all the way down to Central America.

A Journey to Uncover Indigenous Stories

Archaeologist Jesús Sánchez explained that the book's journey began when he invited Patricia Cruz to join an archaeosemiotic project focused on "Chichimeca Identity in Central Mexican Ceramics." Cruz agreed, on the condition that her research would explore how Chichimeca identity continues to live on in indigenous communities, particularly in Mexico's Bajío region.

This quest led her to Metepec, where she stumbled upon a treasure trove of stories, legends, myths, and fables centered around La Atlanchana. This captivating character quickly became the driving force behind the entire book.

"The research was full of adventures. It's not easy to enter an indigenous community and have them share their stories with us," Sánchez highlighted. "However, Patricia Cruz knew how to connect with them; they immediately invited her to work."

Their efforts led to a widely accepted version of the tale, even endorsed by the master potters of Metepec, where La Atlanchana has become a local emblem. This version describes a woman who lived in the region when it was a lake area. From her body, all the lagoon's creatures — fish, frogs, axolotls, and snakes — were said to emerge.

The Siren Call of La Atlanchana

According to oral tradition, Sánchez recounted, La Atlanchana could also transform, shedding her animalistic form to walk on legs around her habitat. Men who saw her were mesmerized by her beauty. She would propose marriage, and those who accepted were blessed with an abundance of lacustrine wealth. But woe to those who refused, as they were often drowned in the lagoon.

The researchers note that pinpointing the absolute original version of this ancient myth is challenging. However, they trace its roots back to at least 500 AD, stating, "That's where we find the oldest elements that will shape the current story, not only in Metepec but in much of the Mexican Republic."

Unpacking Linguistic and Mythological Clues

The research suggests the mythological being's name comes from the Nahuatl words "atl" (water) and "chane" (neighbor), effectively translating to "she who lives in the water." Sánchez also pointed out an intriguing connection to the Tének word "chan," which means "serpent."

He further highlighted the axolotl, the serpent (specifically the aquatic "jarretera" species), and the woman as the key elements that visually represent the myth. "It is common to think that in the pre-Hispanic era, there was this conception of the Atlanchana as a creator woman, because from her spring all the animals of the lagoon, the mountain, the forest, and the water. Thus, she would be an invocation of Chalchiuhtlicue," he said, referencing the powerful Aztec goddess of water.

Tracing Chichimeca Identity Through Time

When discussing the myth's identification as Chichimeca, understood as a way of life, the research delves into history. It goes back to a time when the Valley of Toluca was primarily inhabited by the Matlatzincas, a group connected to Teotihuacan. After Teotihuacan's decline, the Matlatzincas expanded across the lake regions of Michoacán, and what are now Nayarit and Sinaloa.

"These Matlatzincas are the ones who would most strongly develop this myth," Sánchez explained. "The Matlatzinca origins are Chichimeca, and by Chichimeca, we mean not a specific culture or ethnic group, but a way of life, primarily of nomadic or semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who lived in rugged and difficult-to-access areas."

La Atlanchana de Metepec. Genealogía de un mito chichimeca is available for 830 pesos, with a 50% discount at the INAH booth during the UAM-I University Book Fair until June 20, 2025. The fair runs from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and admission is free.



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