Popo and Ixta

An Aztec “Romeo and Juliet” story from Who Cares for Art?

There once was a young warrior named Popo who loved Ixta, the daughter of the Aztec emperor.

To prove his worth to her father, Popo went off to war, while Ixta remained faithful awaiting his return.

Meanwhile, an evil rival for the love of Ixta sent back word to her that Popo had been killed.

When Popo returned safely from the war he found that Ixta was dead. When she heard of the death of her lover, she died of grief during her wedding to the evil rival who deceived her. In his sorrow, Popo carried Ixta to the highest mountain, where he grieved for days on end.

 
In time, the gods took pity on the tragic lovers and turned them to stone.

 

 
 
In Náhuatl, the language of the Aztecs, Popocatépetl means Great Smoking Rock. It is the name of a volcano in the Valley of Mexico.

Ixtaccihautl in Náhuatl means Sleeping Woman Mountain and is the name of a nearby mountain also in the Valley of Mexico.
 
Legend has it that when the volcano, Popo, erupts, he will go to Ixta and awaken her. At last the lovers will be reunited.