"The Aztecs believe they started up in what's now New Mexico, and wandered for 10,000 years before they got down into where they are now, in Mexico City. That's a weird legend"

In this quote, Jerry Pournelle is assessing a legend about the origins of the Aztec civilization. The story suggests that the Aztecs believed their ancestors started their journey in what is now New Mexico, wandering for a comprehensive period-- 10,000 years-- before finally settling in contemporary Mexico City. Pournelle identifies this story as a "odd legend."

To unload this, it's important to think about both historical and mythological contexts. The Aztecs, likewise known as the Mexica, were a Mesoamerican culture that called their home Tenochtitlan, which ultimately became Mexico City. Their history, like that of numerous indigenous peoples, is interwoven with myths and oral customs. One popular legend in Aztec tradition is that of Aztlán, a mysterious ancestral homeland from which they moved. Although Aztlán's specific area stays unidentified, it has actually been broadly hypothesized to be somewhere in the northwestern region of Mexico or the southwestern United States.

The aspect of roaming for 10,000 years is most likely hyperbolic or symbolic, perhaps representing an extended period of migration and browsing rather than a literal timeline. This exaggeration stresses the battles and perseverance required to discover their promised land, Tenochtitlan.

Pournelle explains this story as "odd", maybe because of its fantastical elements or the huge timespan involved, which contrasts greatly with our typical understanding of historic timelines. Using such legends in Aztec culture highlights the importance of narrative in forming identity and custom. Myths like these function as cultural touchstones that provide insights into worths, beliefs, and the historic mind of the Aztec civilization.

This quote welcomes reflection on how legends work as both historic placeholders and cultural cornerstones. While they might defy rational or scientific scrutiny, they play important roles in protecting history, cultivating a sense of community, and providing existential descriptions for ancient peoples.