Vol. 39 No. 3 (1991)
Research Article

Mexico: The Rabbit's Navel

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  • Gutierre Tibón
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1991.39.3.257

Published 1991-09-01

Copyright (c) 1991 Maney

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Abstract

The toponym Mexico has long been etymologized as “the navel of the moon.” This anatomical image has been supported by recent research which identifies the positions of the early lakes on the present site of Mexico City, showing a pattern similar to that perceived on the moon, in both cases resembling a rabbit. Aztec priests searched for a long time to locate an island on which to build a temple. The island, Tenochtitl´n, is in a position corresponding to the navel of the rabbit.

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