Aztec Antichrist

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In Aztec Antichrist, Ben Leeming presents a transcription, translation, and analysis of two sixteenth-century Nahuatl religious plays, likely the earliest surviving representations of the Antichrist legend in the Americas and possibly the oldest play scripts in any New World language. Found in the archives of the Hispanic Society of America, these works were written primarily by Indigenous author Fabían de Aquino and are rich with references to human sacrifice, bloodletting, and ritual divination—practices deemed “idolatrous” by ecclesiastical authorities who sought to suppress Indigenous religious expression. These plays, intended for an Indigenous audience, illustrate how Nahuas interpreted Christianity and contributed to its colonial image. The titular figure emerges as a powerful Indigenous entity, an “Aztec Antichrist,” who vehemently opposes church evangelization and aims to reclaim converted Nahuas for traditional practices. Notably, deities like Tlaloc, Quetzalcoatl, and Tezcatlipoca are depicted as characters, showcasing a unique blend of Indigenous beliefs within the narrative. Leeming's work, complete with translations and contextual analysis, provides invaluable insights into early Indigenous American literature and the complex interactions between Nahua culture and Christianity during the colonial era, making it essential for scholars of Latin American religion, colonialism, Indigenous history, and early modern th