• Michael Forbus
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THE AZTEC DAHLIA

THE AZTEC DAHLIA PAINTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL (MIGUEL) FORBUS According to a legend reported by Wells, the Aztec goddess, Serpent Woman, used to visit an eagle to gain knowledge of the sky gods. On one of her visits, she met a rabbit, holding a dahlia with eight red rays in its mouth. The gods told her to pierce the flower with a sharp spike of agave and hold this to her breast all night long. The next morning, she delivered a full-grown son, the War God, Utzilopochtli, who had gained strength for war and thirst for blood from the dahlia. However, I have not been able to find this legend in any online references for Aztec mythology. The usual story told of the birth of Huitzilopochtli makes him the son of the Aztec earth-goddess, Coatlicue, the goddess of life and death, who was always depicted wearing a necklace of skulls and a skirt of serpents. She found a ball of feathers and tucked it into her skirt, thus becoming pregnant. This angered her other children and they plotted to kill her. But when they dragged her up on top of a mountain to sacrifice her, she gave birth to Huitzilopochtli, the war-god, often depicted as a beserker humming-bird, who slew his treacherous siblings in an orgy of blood.

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John Cappello 17 Aug 2013

Your Flowers Stand apart Above the Crowd, with Sharp colors, They Present A Treasury of Stylish Charms! It's always a pleasure to see Them.

Jeanie Chadwick 28 Nov 2007

ouch....a full-grown war god?..... that turns into a hummingbird....they should have given her a break and let her give birth to the hummingbird who turned into a war god when she needed that. Whew! What a legend. I love it and this flower..it has an inner glow....you make your images so memorable with the text Miguel. A great combination of art.

Artist Reply: Jeanie, thank you so very much for your kind comments. I really appreciate the observations. Sometimes the Aztec and Mayan legends have a bit of seemingly gratuitous viscera written in to the story. Odd but true for a peaceful lot. I really appreciate your in depth looks at my work and writing. It is nice to know someone is paying attention. I really appreciate it. My affection and best wishes, Miguel

Minnie Shuler 23 Nov 2007

Very beautiful, Michael. I do not know this ledgend. Very interesting.

Artist Reply: Minnie, thanks so much for your observations and compliments. I am a bit of an obsessive researcher. Thank you for your gracious compliments. Michael

Hanna Stawska 23 Nov 2007

Excellent!

Artist Reply: Hanna, my gratitude to you and after looking at your work, I am doubly pleased as it is wonderful. Excellent work. The fractals are very beautiful but you do well with the tactile arts as well. Very talented woman. Thank you so much for your kind words about my work. I am humbled. Michael

Jan van Baarle 23 Nov 2007

Fantastic!

Artist Reply: Jan, my gratitude to you for your kindness and generosity. You are always so kind in your comments and that always does my heart good and makes me want to do more work. Two things I really welcome. My affection to you and yours and have a most glorious weekend. Michael