The Legend of Maize: Quetzalcoatl and the Corn Plant

The Legend of Maize Quetzalcoatl and the Corn Plant an Aztec myth retold by Kevin Earl

The Legend of Maize

Quetzalcoatl and the Corn Plant

An ancient Aztec myth retold by

Kevin Earl

For my students, may the story and colors and images in this book inspire a love of learning of cultures and places.

- Kevin

An ancient legend says that before the arrival of the god Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs only ate roots and meat.

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Hidden behind the massive mountains surrounding their city, just

beyond their reach, was a treasure that would change their lives forever, but they couldn’t get to it.

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That treasure was corn.

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The gods had tried to part the mountains for the people to reach this precious food, but they never succeeded.

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Then

Quetzalcoatl came to them.

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The Aztec people sent their holy men to ask Quetzalcoatl for his help in reaching the other side of the mountains for this life-giving resource.

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He said he would go and bring them back this great treasure.

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The other gods tried moving the mountains by force. Quetzalcoatl decided to use something more powerful—intelligence.

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Quetzalcoatl transformed into a small black ant and, in the company of a red ant, began the long journey.

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The path

presented many difficulties,

but one by one he overcame them.

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Even

when he faced death, he was determined to move forward by the thought of helping the Aztec people.

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After many days, Quetzalcoatl arrived on the other 12

side of the mountain where he found the corn.

Being an ant he took a kernel of corn between his teeth and began his journey back.

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Once he returned to the people, he gave the grain of corn to be planted.

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From that day onward, the Aztecs planted and harvested corn and became a strong and powerful people.

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Today, corn is an important

part of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. It is used for tortillas and masa to make tacos, burritos, tamales, and more delicious food!

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