Tales from the Enchanted Forest

This love story from Mexico tells the tale of the volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. Otherwise known as the two star-crossed lovers.

Image by Jorge Garza.

The Iztaccíhuatl–Popocatépetl National Park overlooking the Valley of Mexico is home to the volcanoes “smoking mountain,” Popocatépetl, and the “sleeping woman,” Iztaccíhuatl. There have been many legends and myths about their conception, with many sources starting them off as a human couple that transform into mountains. We will cover two tales today, with the first story coming from “A Treasury of Mexican Folkways” by Frances Toor.

Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl

Thousands of years ago, the mighty Aztec empire dominated modern-day Mexico. Iztaccíhuatl was the beautiful daughter and sole heir to a powerful chief from the Tlaxcalatecs.

Her father had a long and mighty reign but was growing old, and his enemies began waging wars against him. The mighty chief called upon the bravest warriors to come to his aid, with the reward being his daughter’s hand to the one that defeated his enemies.

Among the warriors was Popocatépetl. He was as in love with the Princess as she was with him.

Some say that instead of offering Iztaccíhuatl as a prize, the chief had called his warriors forth, and Popocatépetl specifically asked for his beloveds hand in marriage before fighting. Her father was reluctant and she begged him not to go, but he promised them that he would return a hero worthy of her hand.

Image by Nadine Takvorian

False Herald

The war was long, cruel and bloody, but Popocatépetl prevailed and sought to return home to claim his prize. However, someone sent false news to the Kingdom that Popocatépetl had died during the war. It could have been the enemy soldiers or a slighted lover who wanted to claim the Princess for himself.

Either way, after hearing the news Iztaccíhuatl became sick with an illness that no one could name or cure. By the time Popocatépetl returned home, the Princess had died of her broken heart.

Image by Nadine Takvorian

Metamorphosis

The great warrior was devastated, and in his grief, he constructed a great pyramid to protect her body. When he finished, he built another one next to it for himself to watch over her with a torch and illuminate her eternal sleep.

During the years that followed, snow fell and covered the bodies of the Princess and the Warrior. However, it could never extinguish his torch, which continued to stay alight, warm and everlasting like the love of Popocatépetl for his Princess.

Another version of the story claims that it was actually the Gods doing. After watching Popoca carry Izta’s body to the mountains, they transformed the grief-stricken couple into a pair of volcanoes. It’s nice to see that God’s from every form of legend and myth believe in metamorphosis as a reward.

Image by Jesus Helguera

A Silly Bonus: The Headless Mountain

The next little story comes from Martin Mendez as recorded by Richard Pittman. It is simply called the three mountains.

The Volcano, Popocatépetl, had a wife called Iztaccíhuatl, who was very pure and white (alluding to her snowy peaks). One day, another mountain lusted after her. This was the volcano Nevado de Toluca.

The two male volcanos began throwing ice at each other. With each shot, Popocatépetl grew angrier and angrier until he grabbed a large slab of ice and lobbed it right at the peak of the other volcano. The ice hit and decapitated the head of the Nevado de Toluca.

That is why when you see Nevado today, it looks like it has shoulders but no head.