Abstract

VILLANUEVA VILLANUEVA, Nancy Beatriz  and  VICTORIA OJEDA, Jorge. Popular Catholicism with pre-Columbian roots. The cult of the Virgin of the Ruins of Aké, Yucatán, Mexico. Cuicuilco. Rev. cienc. antropol. [online]. 2020, vol.27, n.78, pp.165-187.  Epub May 06, 2021. ISSN 2448-8488.

In this paper the authors explore the survival of an ancestral tradition that began prior to the Spanish Conquest, related to the cult of the ancient Mayan goddess: Ixchel. The analysis of current devotional practices regarding the Virgin of Las Ruinas de Aké and the myth of the origin of this Virgin suggest links or continuities with the said Mayan goddess. It is proposed that, over time -and in accordance with the social, economic, cultural and political conditions of each historical period- the faithful were adapting the cult and providing new meanings to their original worldview, as well as to the devotional practices derived thereof. Today, these devotees have forgotten the initial beliefs that started their devotional practices, they have covered them under a shade of popular Catholic religiosity.

Keywords : Ixchel; Virgen de Las Ruinas de Aké; Izamal; Mayan religion; popular Catholicism.

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