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| The Consul ... had seemed happy enough too then, wandering around Cholula with its three hundred and six churches... and climbing the ruined pyramid later, which he had proudly insisted was the original Tower of Babel. How admirably he had concealed what must have been the babel of his thoughts! – UTV, 11.
Cholula, a holy city of the Toltecs and Aztecs, is dominated by a massive pyramid which Ignatius Donnelly associated with both the great pyramid of Egypt and the Tower of Babel. Cholula was the scene of a barbaric massacre by Cortes of 3,000 Indians, and is thus associated with the theme of betrayal. |
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Tizatlán... in this town, very near to Tlaxcala City, are still erected the ruins of the Palace, residence of Senator Xicohtencatl, father of the warrior of the same name. In said ruins could be still appreciated the stone blocks where were offered the sacrifices to their Gods ... In the same town, a long time ago, were the headquarters of the Tlaxcaltecan warriors – UTV, 300.
This panel, from the ayuntamiento or municipal chambers of Tlaxcala City, depicts the meeting of Cortés and the blind old Senator Xicohtencatl at Tizatlán, with the enigmatic presence of Malinche (the native mistress of Cortés) as a reminder of betrayal. |