The legend of Cueva Cincalco, the entrance to the underworld in Chapultepec
Today the Chapultepec forest In CDMX it is a recreational place with attractions that highlight its historical and cultural importance, however; In pre-Hispanic times, the grasshopper forest was a paradise like no other, where man had contact with the spiritual world, as is the case of the Cincalco cave.
It is said that this ancient space in Chapultepec was the scene of a legend that involves the assistants of the powerful Tlaloc and the same Cincalco Cavewhich is and was also known since the times of our ancestors for being the way to one of the most important mythological places in the world. Mexican culture Known the complete legend of the Cincalco Cave next!
The Audiorama and the Cincalco Cave
Located behind the ahuehuete known as Sargeant and on one side of the monument to squadron 201there is the audiorama; a very peaceful place where you can rest and even borrow a book while you relax with the musical background and the deep nature that surrounds it.
In the audiorama there is the Cincalco Cave and it is inevitable to turn to see it, because your first impression is one of amazement and curiosity. It is very certain that everyone who comes to this place walks towards the cave and investigates it as one of the first things he does, since the energy that emanates from this enormous opening in the earth is said to be sacred.
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Cincalco Cave, a legendary space in the Chapultepec forest
But Why is Cueva Cincalco sacred? Our indigenous cultures, those that inhabited Tenochtitlán and some others, knew that Cincalco Cave was one of the few doors that exist in the world whose path leads to the underworld.
According to the native peoples, through the call Cincalco Cave one can reach Mictlán, but it is only an access, since the walker would still have to go through the 9 tests.
Other stories say that The mythical cave is an entrance to Tlalocan, the paradise of the god Tláloc. This is a heavenly place made up mainly of the most precious fountains, ponds, waterfalls, springs and lakes in the universe, fed by the sacred water that gives life on earth.
The souls that live here are mostly people whose deaths had to do with water or some liquid. The souls that live here will eternally worship Tlaloc in their beautiful pyramids made of jade and he will accompany them for all eternity.
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What is at the end of Cincalco Cave?
At the moment, It is not at all advisable to enter the cave, since it is a natural place that must be preserved as it is; so There is a high possibility of suffering an accident inside.
From the outside, the fence recommends not entering into its darkness and we can see a candle, which they try to always keep on, since it is true that many people since the times in which they indigenous cultures They were the only ones present in Mexico; They came to the cave, as they say, to lose their lives, to enter the underworld by one’s own decision.
The last Toltec king, the tlaloques and the Cincalco Cave
The legend of the Cincalco Cave what we mentioned to you is actually the legend of king Huémac, the last leader of the Toltecs before their extinction. As far as there is record, the oldest culture in Mexico is that of Teotihuacán, then came the Otomí and then the Toltecs.
It is said that King Huémac was a great ball player and one day, in the vicinity of the Cincalco Cave, he met the Four Tlaloqueswho are neither more nor less than the faithful assistants of Tláloc, those who control the winds and bring the rains to the places in Mexico that need it most, in addition to regulating the presence of sunlight in others, to mention some of them. their powers and responsibilities.
So The Four Tlaloques challenged the king and in exchange, the sovereign asked that if he was the winner, his prize would be jade and quetzal feathers, very valuable material objects for the times of Huémac. Confident, the Tlaloques accepted but lost. Given his superiority in the game, Huémac demanded his reward.
The wise Tlaloques knew the true value of things on earthSo they filled him with green corn leaves and much of this precious delicacy so that he could take him to his people and abundance would fall on his kingdom. Proud, rude and greedy, Huémac demanded his prize of jade and precious feathers. The Tlaloques gave it to him, but they would ensure that the king learned his lesson because of his insolence.
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The end of the Toltecs
4 years of drought hit the Toltec people and Huémac understood, too late, that true wealth is the nature that surrounds it. It is said that he cried uncontrollably and returned to the vicinity of the Cincalco Cave, in front of which he found the Tlaloques, to whom I beg for forgiveness. Then Huémac accepted the gift of corn that the deities gave him, but it was too late, since his people had perished.
It is believed that Huémac entered the Cincalco Cave and died. This may be the origin of the name of this place, since Cincalco means “House of Corn”.
On the other hand, it is believed that before the fall of his empire and the extinction of his people, Huémac went to the Cincalco cave to end his life or simply die there and it is likely that because of his mistakes, the survivors of his people have followed to finish him off.
Enter here to learn everything about Teotihuacán, the last home of the most important cultures in Mexico.
Curiosities around the Cincalco Cave
Another thing that draws attention to the audiorama is a Guadalupe’s Virgin which is almost hidden among the vegetation and always has beautiful floral arrangements, gifts from the parishioners who visit it.
This detail next to the Cincalco Cave reminds us of the custom that our original towns of placing an altar of worship in the places where their divinities lived and many of these were replaced by Catholic figures.
The presence of this small altar could give strength to the legend of the Cincalco Cave and be proof of the faith that has been had in this space since ancient times and that must be preserved as part of the CDMX culture.