- Cerro Delgado in Chalcatzingo

Object Name: Rock saddle (Portezuelo) in Chalcatzingo
Creation Date: 1000-200 B.C.
Culture: Olmec
Site: Chalcatzingo
Material:
Repository:
Image source: © Dr. Manuel Aguilar
One of the three peaks in the Chalcatzingo mountain group is a small rock saddle called "Portezuelo" which was considered a Portal to the Underworld, the dwelling of the Ancestors. It is interesting to note that the Spanish word " Portezuelo" is a diminutive of the word Puerto (Port) that implies the idea of a "mouth" or "entrance" to the land. Also the word "Portezuelo" is referred to as a path or road that goes between two mountains or sierras. In this case the meaning of the name of that part of the "Chalcatzingo Mountain" is consistent with the concept of the Portal or Path to the Underworld believed by the ancient Mesoamericans, which is reinforced by the symbolism of the pictographs that exist in some caves there.

First Page Previous Page Parent Page Next Page Last Page