Aztlan

Aztlan is a legendary location in Aztec mythology, considered the ancestral homeland of the Mexica people, who later founded the Aztec Empire. The name itself is derived from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, with possible meanings including "place of whiteness" or "place of herons." Accounts of Aztlan vary, but it is generally depicted as an island situated in a lake, often identified with Lake Texcoco, though other theories place it further north in what is now the southwestern United States.

The Aztec migration narrative describes their departure from Aztlan, guided by their patron deity Huitzilopochtli, who commanded them to seek a new home. This arduous journey, lasting many years, eventually led them to the Valley of Mexico. The exact historical or geographical reality of Aztlan remains a subject of scholarly debate. Some view it as a literal place, while others interpret it as a symbolic representation of a pristine origin or a spiritual journey. The concept of Aztlan continues to hold cultural significance, particularly for Mexican and Chicano identity movements.