The Tlanchana, also known as the Anchane, is a freshwater figure of the Matlatzinca people.

Description

Her appearance is that of a woman with the lower body of a snake, and is oftentimes wearing a crown, necklaces, and aquatic creatures strung around her waist. Due to

European European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...

influence, later depictions portray her as a mermaid with a fish tail in the place of a serpent's. The Tlanchana originates from an Otomi goddess known as Acapaxapo (also spelled Acpaxapo). She was said to have

divinatory Divination (from Latin ''divinare'', 'to foresee, to foretell, to predict, to prophesy') is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout history ...

powers and would be called upon to deliver omens. The

Aztecs The Aztecs () were a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those g ...

later adopted the goddess under the name Atl-tonan-chane, or Altonanchane, which became Tlanchana. Unlike the Acapaxapo, the Tlanchana was not purely benevolent. If rejected, she would wrap around human men and drag them underwater to drown.

References

{{Mesoamerica-myth-stub Indigenous Mesoamerican legendary creatures Mythological human hybrids Female legendary creatures Mexican mythology Mythological aquatic creatures Matlatzinca Otomi Mermaids Legendary serpents