Abstract :
An important episode in Mesoamerican mythical narratives involves the abduction or impregnation of a tightly guarded maiden by a
disguised god, against the will of her father or mother. This action precipitates major creational events that variously result in the origin of
the sun, the moon, and human sustenance. Relying on a comparative analysis of versions recorded throughout Mesoamerica, this
paper explores (a) representations of this episode in Maya art, where the suitor sometimes takes the shape of an insect; (b) the magical role
of weaving and spinning, a recurrent theme in this mythical sequence; and (c) the relevance of Maya narratives for the interpretation
of related passages in central Mexican mythology and ritual. Classic representations evidence the myth’s antiquity, while its numerous
versions pose methodological problems, addressed in this paper through the analysis of synonymies in narrative, art, and performance.
