Aztlan: legendary Aztec homeland

Is the legendary homeland of the "Aztecs" a myth?

(The Mysteries of Latin America, with Andrew Colón) July 1, 2025:  THE VAULT! The Mysteries of Latin America Podcast, hosted by Andrew Colón.

Leaving Aztlan (Atlantis?) for the mainland

This video explores the "Aztec" [a modern made-up name invented in the USA] mythology surrounding Aztlan, the claimed ancestral origin of the people who would build Tenochtitlan, the site of modern Mexico City.

Was Aztlan a real place or a fictional narrative meant to give meaning to a greater truth about outsiders looking for a place to belong in Mesoamerica? It delves into the symbolism behind their journey and how it shaped their search for a new home and history.

Thousands of people are marching in cities across California, standing up for migrant families and demanding dignity—which is reminiscent of something ancient. Way before national borders, ICE raids, and Trumpian walls, the ancestors of the Mexica—the original "Mexicans," the tribal people we now label “Aztecs”—were wandering the desert looking for a sign.

They were turned away by those who were already settled. This story of Aztlán has been passed down for generations. This episode digs into what it really means. Was Aztlán a real place? A metaphor? A strategy? Why ask?

For a lot of us—especially those of us who are Mexican American—this isn’t just about the past. It’s about identity, memory, and what it means to belong.

In this episode:

• The legend of Aztlán and why it still matters

• What the codices, scholars, and even conspiracy theorists have to say

• Why this ancient story still hits hard in a world where people are still being turned away at borders.

Let’s explore the Mexica migration, how “Aztecs” came to be, what the codices say, and how this all connects to today—because this isn’t just myth. It’s about who we are and how we got here.

If anyone is Mexican American, Latinx, Chicano, Hispanic, or has ever asked, “Where do I really come from?”—this one’s for you.

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Exile or Origin?
• 0:30 Why We Tell These Stories
• 0:45 A Lost Paradise
• 1:52 “Aztecs” vs. Mexica
• 2:48 The Command: Leave Paradise
• 5:37 The Journey: Sacred Wandering
• 7:43 Where was (or IS) Aztlán?
• 10:07 Aztlán: Truth or strategy?
• 12:26 From the fringe: Atlantis, aliens, and conspiracies
• 13:15 What do viewers think?
• 13:58 Share a story

ABOUT: Andrew Colon tells stories about myths, legends, histories, and mysteries from Latin America and the Caribbean. He does this so those of us with roots here know where we come from—and so that those who don’t can finally learn what we were never taught in school.

Everything on this channel is researched and rooted in culture. It uses AI-generated images to help visualize ideas, but the story, its meaning, and the message are real.

Watch or listen to full playlist: • THE VAULT! The Mysteries of Latin America... Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/12rJLlk... Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Instagram: @andycolonvo Join the list: andy@andycancun.com. Help spread the word: Like this video if it hit home. Share it with someone who should see it. Subscribe for more stories rooted in Latin America.   #mexicanhistory #AztecOrigins #Latinx #Aztlan #mexicanamerican #mesoamerican

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode

• Codex Boturini – 16th-century Aztec codex depicting the migration from Aztlán to Tenochtitlán.
• Codex Aubin and Codex Mendoza – additional sources for Mexica migration and history.
• Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, Muerte a filo de obsidiana – Reflections on Mexica mythology, symbolism, and interpretation of Aztlán as a cultural metaphor.
• Miguel León-Portilla, The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico – essential reading for Nahua voices and historical memory.
• Camilla Townsend, Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs – groundbreaking modern retelling based on Nahuatl sources.
• Susan Gillespie, The Aztec Kings: The Construction of Rulership in Mexica History – insight into how the Mexica used myth and memory to legitimize political power.
• Juan Miguel Zunzunegui – Mexican historian and social commentator who discusses the northern desert origins of the Mexica in his videos and books.
• David Carrasco, City of Sacrifice: The Aztec Empire and the Role of Myth in History – explores how myth shaped Mexica society and migration narratives.
• Mexican flag symbolism – origins of the eagle, cactus, and serpent from Mexica prophecy.
• Mexcaltitán, Nayarit – real island city thought by some scholars to be the inspiration for Aztlán.
• La Quemada (Zacatecas) and Sierra de San Luis (Chihuahua) – archeological sites linked to Chicomoztoc, the "Place of the Seven Caves."
• Uto-Aztecan Language Family – linguistic evidence tying Nahuatl to Indigenous peoples in the American Southwest (Hopi, Pueblo, etc.)
• Andrew Colon, July 1, 2025; Crystal Quintero, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly