# Chiapanec people

The Chiapanec, also known as Chiapas or Soctones, were an indigenous people who occupied a part of the central region of the present-day state of Chiapas, Mexico. Not much is known about their origin, but it is often speculated that they may have migrated from Central America northwards, due to their close linguistic relationship with the Mangues. The language of the Chiapas was the Chiapanec language, now extinct, although well documented. This language is classified within the Oto-Manguean language family, being the only language of that family spoken in the current Chiapas territory.
The main settlement of the Chiapas people was Napiniacá, now known as Chiapa de Corzo. The state of Chiapas takes its name from this indigenous people, whose resistance to the Spanish conquest has been treated in heroic tales that are now considered not entirely true. The disappearance of the Chiapas language has led to the assumption that the Chiapas disappeared without a trace. The people of Chiapas were decimated in the C.E.18th century by the various epidemics in the region, which led to the disappearance of some of its most notable settlements, such as Ostuta and Pochutla. The population of Chiapas was Ladinized and its culture survived in a cultural hybridization, some of whose features are preserved in the culture of the peoples of the Chiapas region, made up approximately of the current municipalities of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapilla, Acala, Suchiapa and Ixtapa.

## Location

They settled in the Central Depression of Chiapas in the center of the state of Chiapas in the territory of what are now the municipalities of Acala, Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapilla, Suchiapa, Osumacinta, Villa Corzo, Chiapas [es], Villaflores, Municipality of San Lucas, Chiapas [es], Tuxtla Gutierrez, Ocozocoautla or Coita, Berriozábal and La Frailesca, Chiapas [es].
The capital city of the Socton people was Nandalumi or Napiniaca, located in the present-day territory of the city of Chiapa de Corzo, was known by the Nahua-speaking peoples as Chiapa de Corzo.
The fertile alluvial lands that make up the so-called banks of the Grijalva River were, since the beginning of American civilization, a point of attraction for the human groups that colonized the continent. The Olmecs probably inhabited the antechamber of the Sumidero Canyon. Later, the Zoques and Mayans settled there; However, according to the opinion of researcher Carlos Navarrete in his book Archaeological Investigations about the Chiapas Problem, those who came to govern the entire area from the 6th century of our era were the Chiapas, who, according to some historical sources, arrived from the lands of present-day Nicaragua and forcibly displaced the ancient settlers.

## History

Little is known about its pre-Hispanic history. When the Spaniards arrived in Chiapas, they had subdued and made tributary Zoques, Tsotzils, Tseltals, and had quarrels with the Lacandons and Mames territories assaulted by the Aztec Empire, which also wanted to dominate them.
Fray Antonio de Remesal [es], in his book General History of Chiapa and Guatemala, tells us that: "Formerly, some people came from the province of Nicaragua, who, tired of walking and of the discomforts that pilgrimage brings with it, remained in the land of Chiapa."
A legend says that the warrior tribe of the Chiapas (Soctones), led by the old cacique Nandalumí, from Nicoya, Nicaragua, founded the town of Nandiumé. From there they began to subdue the aforementioned Zoques, Tsotsiles, Tseltals and Mames, covering a large area of the state of Chiapas. In 1486, the Aztecs' failed attempts to subdue the Chiapas began and they named the Teochiapan to the town of Nandiumé and Chiapas to the Soctona ethnic group. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, in his chronicle of the True History of the Conquest of New Spain tells us that: " ... When the Chiapas could not defeat their invading enemy, the Spaniards and the Indians who supported them, preferred to die by throwing themselves from the rock of Tepetchia"
This rock is located at the top of the Sumidero Canyon. On the other hand, Antonio de Remesal [es], in his book General History of Chiapa and Guatemala, tells us that: "Captain Diego de Mazariegos met with resistance from the people of Chiapa, and although he took many steps to pacify them out of love, he could not put an end to them. And there they defended themselves for a few days; and after they had fought a great deal, they were forcibly interfered with, and continued in their pertinence; Those who remained with others who joined him in another place fought until they could not raise their arms, and seeing themselves lost with their wives and children, they fell down the side of the river, which is very high, and there so many perished that of the many who were a little more than two thousand remained"."
The Chiapas were very different from the other inhabitants of central Chiapas: their physical appearance impressed the conquistadors. Fray Tomás de la Torre – quoted by Francisco Ximénez in the History of the province of San Vicente de Chiapa and Guatemala of the Order of Preachers – who accompanied Fray Bartolomé de las Casas on his first visit to the area, described them as people "very grown up wonderfully, both men and women who look like giants... they walk around naked... the hair braided with gallant braids and encircled around the head without any other touch." Tomás de la Torre also said that they were struck by the fact that the people of Chiapas..."are funny in gathering various flowers and make very beautiful pineapples out of them. They walk around when they can with flowers and other smells on their hands, because they are friends of the good smell: They have the cloth in the middle of their nose open and there is a stained glass window like amber that makes their noses come out like a large trunk."

## Mythology

Chía The waning moon as a celestial and agricultural divinity that brings rain. As a lunar goddess, she was represented in her waning phase as a green Chiapaa macaw (short for Chiapaame (high moon)).
Mahapiho Like the sun. A name that was conferred as a solar distinction to Matoui. Fourteenth month of the Chiapas calendar dedicated to his cult, from November 2 to 21.
Mahatiho Like the Wind: Another name given to Matoui. Mandanda Mythology: Female deity from Chiapas. Goddess of rivers, streams and water as an element of fertility. Spirit of the rain. For this reason, tribute was paid to him on the great river of Chiapa in mid-February. (Early in the first month: Mongahue.)
Matoui Mythology The detached from Nombobui, from Ma- (part. reverential), and the verb Itoui (to detach, let go, or detach from Nombobui), which dwelt in the sun. God of war and storms (lightning, lightning and thunder), whose main temple was in the Moyolaa neighborhood or of the Dignitaries of the temple (today Barrio San Miguel in the town of Chiapa). Sixteenth month of the Chiapas calendar dedicated to his worship, from December 12 to 31.
Mohotoui A male deity from Chiapas representing Matoui as the god of heavy rain, thunder and lightning. The seventeenth month of the Chiapas calendar dedicated to Mohotoui, from January 1 to 20.
A symbolic representation of the cross of the celestial quadrant that was projected onto the Earth, generally as a vegetal figure in the form of four foliated branches diverging to the four cardinal directions.
Nanyhela Chiapas female deity. Goddess of fertility and harvests, who ripens fruits and grasses. He was depicted dwelling in the star of the equatorial constellation of Orion, which is visible in the northern hemisphere in the months of December, January, and February, which is why he was also called Narianyhela or prodigious star. A word that was later transformed into Marianguela and, later in the form of a legend, into María de Angulo.
Nalailo or Ñalailo, the mythical paradise of Chiapas, which, according to belief, was to the east where the sun rises, and those who died bravely went.
Nauiti or Mahuiti Chiapas female deity, goddess of flowers and young maidens. Renewing and peaceful spirit of the home.
Nombubi Divine spirit. Chiapas male deity. God of wisdom. God the primeval Father. Divine and universal spirit who is all goodness to men. A major divinity among the Chiapas who regulates and measures time, an omnipresent God who gives and takes life from humans.
Nombobi Also called Nomboui. A male deity from Chiapas, a divine spirit that animates humans. God of work and harmony among men. It seems that its equivalent was that of God the Son or first son or Nbeleu nbaña. Nombo Mythology: Not representative of any deity as a unit, instead it is given as a universal spirit and the one who animates all living things as the breath of the heart.
Qhia Chiapas female deity. As a lunar goddess, she was depicted in her waning phase. Twin but evil sister of the full moon goddess, she was given the role of maddening people and animals when she appeared in their waning phase, as well as preventing the full development of living beings when they were conceived, or plants when they were sown during their lunar phase. It was depicted as a long-tailed bird, specifically by a green macaw.
Tishambi Minor deity (Malignant or Negative) from Chiapas, as a demon he represented intrinsic evil and madness. Tishambula Mythology: Evil deity (Interior of the earth) from Chiapas, who lived in the caves and sinkholes, of Nbula (earth or soil).
Tishanila Chiapas evil deity who appeared on lonely roads to travelers he found alone, from Nila (road).
The Sacred Denier of Nombubuí, of Ti (Part. Negative), Sha- (reverential, distinctive, or demonstrative part of the thing nominated), and Nombobui (sacred spirit). The major deity of Chiapas that splits from Nombobui the great Positive (Intrinsic Goodness), forms the creative biunity of the universe.
Yalailo or Ñalailo, paradise. Mythical place of the Chiapas where it was supposed to go, those chosen or liked by Matoui (God of war) and women who died in childbirth, by Nauiti or Nahuiti (Goddess who took care of women).