explore | Grilled Cheese

VAMPIRE WITCHES of MEXICO & PORTUGAL
BRUJAS are Witches of Mexico & Hispanic communities who are ascribed vampiric habits. A bloodsucking Portuguese Witch who preys on infants is known as a BRUXSA
#WyrdWednesday

Las Brujas, Witches' Sabbath, Goya, 1797

Ancient Mesoamericans imagined the night's sky like that of a cave, with light glistening from each stalactite from far above. Rain is water rushing into our cave, and for that rain gods are given much prominence in Mayan and Aztec mythos. #WyrdWednesday

The mythologies of the Aztec peoples come to us in two sources, in the same book: the Florentine Codex, the most complete work, is written on one side in Spanish, and one side in Nahuatl, recording indigenous life, but sometimes telling it differently. #WyrdWednesday

The English artist Leonora Carrington lived in Mexico and was inspired by Indigenous mythology. She painted her mural ‘The Magical World of the Maya’ (1963-4) for the Museo Nacional de Antropología. The painting depicts imagery from the Popol Vuh, the sacred text of the Maya. #WyrdWednesday

THE VAMPIRE BATS of CHILE The Spanish supposedly came back from the New World with stories of blood-sucking bats; Buffon named them 'vampire bats' in 1774 & Charles Darwin popularised them in 1832, making several sketches of them in Chile #WyrdWednesday

Images: Goya 1799, Darwin 1832

The nahual is one of México's most enduring supernatural figures. Traditions vary, but stories tell of people with extraordinary connections to animal forms, sometimes transforming into them. Even today, tales of strange animals after dark can awaken very old suspicions. #WyrdWednesday

Seeing the elephant - in Chiapas?

Raconteur extraordinaire Comte de Waldeck did, in the ruins of Mayan Palenque, attributing Mesoamerican archaeological discoveries with Hellenistic trappings for European audiences, giving rise to the idea of pre-Columbian contact.

#wyrdwednesday

In mythology, the Chihuahua's ancestors were psychopomps, or soul guides, in the afterlife. The Aztecs believed that when a person died, their soul had to navigate the nine perilous levels of the underworld. These small dogs would ferry the deceased across the final river to safety.

#WyrdWednesday

The alux belongs to Maya tradition, especially in the Yucatán. These small supernatural beings are associated with fields, forests and caves. Treat them respectfully and they may protect the land. Offend them and your day may become considerably more complicated. #WyrdWednesday

The jaguar, symbol of the night & transformation, was central to Mayan myth. The moon goddess Ixchel was often depicted with jaguar ears or claws. Thrones in jaguar form still survive. The bicephalic Jaguar Throne of Uxmal has 2 eyes for regular vision & 2 for supernatural sight #WyrdWednesday

Some years ago the local Pound Shop was selling Day of the Dead-style items for Halloween. I got this skull and decorated it with butterflies to represent spirits of the dead.
#WyrdWednesday

In the Mexican Spider-Man comics the story line broke from the death of Gwen Stacy and told its own story for 45 original issues after Spiderman #119.
#WyrdWednesday #70s
[🎨Jose Luis Duran]

Good morning, Wyrdlings!

@cwreeve.bsky.social here, opening up this week's #WyrdWednesday! The theme:

“A Mosaic of Different Worlds – Maya, Aztec, Mexico!”

SHOW ME YOUR WYRD!

In the folklore of Chiloé Island in southern Chile, an imbunche is a monster that guards a sorcerer's cave and hunts down the sorcerer's enemies. The imbunche was once human, but had their head twisted backwards and their limbs twisted around as part of a magic ritual.
#WyrdWednesday

Tlaloc, Aztec rain god from Teotihuacan.
#WyrdWednesday #Aztec #Mexico

After it set, Kinich Ahau, the Night Sun became a jaguar and travelled through, or perhaps ruled, the underworld; known as the Jaguar God of the Underworld. The jaguar being the most powerful cat known to the Mayan people.

#WyrdWednesday art: A.D. McGowan