Atenango del Río
Municipal seat and city
Atenango del Río Location in Mexico
Coordinates: 18°5′N 99°6′W / 18.083°N 99.100°W / 18.083; -99.100
Country	Mexico
State	Guerrero
Municipality	Atenango del Río

Atenango del Río is a city and seat of the municipality of Atenango del Río, in the state of Guerrero, south-western Mexico.^[1]

Origin of the name Atenango

Some historians say the name derives from the Nahuatl Atenango, which translated into Spanish means "in the wall of water", but others argue it should be interpreted as "place of the dam or dike." The addition of the river was due to its location on the banks of the river Amacuzac.

When erected the state of Guerrero, was already Atenango municipality, which was originally part of the state of Mexico who took away a part of its territory to form the current state of Guerrero.

History

Prehispanic Background

As stated in the Codex Mendoza Atenango paid tribute to the Aztecs who had managed to dominate the region. The tribute was to give them corn, beans, chile, cotton blankets and carved stones for necklace, which they called "chalchihuitl" or green stone, commonly called jade.

Colonial history

In colonial times was present Atenango for being the setting in which Hernando Ruiz de Alarcon wrote a "Treatise on the orders of the Archbishop of Mexico, which narrates the customs that were the indigenous inhabitants of these lands."

The title of the treaty is "TREATY OF CUSTOMS AND RITES TODAY WE LIVE gentile inhabitants of this place," as well at that time were built three churches in the colonial style that exist in the municipality, being that of: Atenango River, Comala and Santiago Gómez-Zacango.

Nineteenth century

Atenango is present because of Generalissimo Don Jose Maria Morelos, having emerged from Uruapan to Tehuacán escorting the Congress came to Atenango Morelos, and wanted to cross the river requested information, did not receive one and the cross where Crey + or should be choked his soldiers and horses, annoyed ordered to burn the village, leaving only standing the house, kept going and Tesmalaca as it was called then Temalac, decided to rest his people.

Only the colonial army commanded by the top leaders who had come following in the steps, to arrive at Atenango Tulimán, villagers were told they were not far away, rushed his way and day 5 November 1815, having sent forward to Members and the file, Morelos was in the rear and was discovered when he was about to reach the summit of the hill of Tecaballo whose foot is Temalac.

The colonial soldiers led by a villager who was forced to teach a path come their way, Morelos tried to hide but was caught by Matthew Carranza who was a soldier who had fought under the command of Morelos and was now siding with their enemies .

Morelos was captured and brought to Atenango where on Nov. 6 in his presence, were shot soldiers taken prisoner along with him. The generous people with their heroes contains the remains of these soldiers and annually pays tribute to them on 17 September.

Twentieth century

The beginnings of the revolution against Porfirio Díaz in Atenango had relevance for the following situation: Having invited many people to participate in the insurrection Mata Figueroa brothers, came and took the place of Atenango peacefully, on 26 February 1911.

In this place we read a proclamation that the teacher had written Francisco Mata Figueroa, in which unknown to Porfirio Díaz as president and also among other things asked for free elections.

To remember this historical event President Luis Echeverria Alvarez, visited the town on that date important to deliver deeds to the people made by the government of the Republic, counting among these the most important works, the bridge over the river to the neighboring municipalities Amacuzac of Copalillo and Olinalá and the states of Puebla and Morelos.

Between forty and fifty years the town lost territory to be annexed to Huitzuco communities: Tulimán, Paso Morelos, San Miguel de las Palmas, and Cahuilotla Chaucingo.

Crest of Mexico

Shield

The shield represents the values of the municipality and its meaning is as follows: At the center presents the main economic activities of the municipality, agriculture and livestock, which are symbolized by the cornfield, the tlacolol and the bull, this is for the production .

Education is expressed in the sky pencils. With these images together represents the phrase written on water: EDUCATION AND PRODUCE IS PROGRESS. The organ and the hill of the peak gives an idea of warm weather and mountainous terrain of the region.

The rainy season is represented by the area plowed in green and the dry season in the yellow surface, and tlacolol as an antecedent of modern agriculture.

The river is horseshoe-shaped wall of water, also symbolized by the glyph of the place where formerly lived the indigenous population, tributary of the Aztecs to the Spanish arrived.

That place is now known as "La Hacienda" or "Atenango the old" as it is still called by the elders.

Fish and river ecological riches and itself a source of work for some families and in fishing or in the gardens of watermelon, with a resource that can get more out. The maguey that crowns the shield is a plant characteristic of the region.

Hidden on the banks of the river are two lizards, a species now extinct in the region, is remembered as a legend.

The blue water and sky symbolize the faith of the Atenenguenses in the future, the Christian cross on the peak symbolizes the faith they profess most of the inhabitants of the municipality.

It emphasizes that the name of Atenango is expressed in three ways: In a symbolic way in the horseshoe of water; the glyph that represents pre-Hispanic and Spanish. The glyph representing the name of Atenango in writing Picto Ideology of the Aztecs who dominated this region and were paid tribute to the people who dominated.

The fence behind the wall and see the stream of water splashing. The meaning is: ATL-CO: Water TENAMITL: Wall or fence, the union of the two words is: "In the wall of water".

Geography

Demography

References