Mexico, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This is a commercial card from Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, part of a series depicting flags of all nations. Here, the flag of Mexico prominently features an eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a serpent. This is no mere national emblem but a powerful echo of ancient myth. The Aztecs, guided by their deity Huitzilopochtli, sought a place to build their capital, Tenochtitlan. The god commanded them to look for an eagle devouring a serpent, which would mark their promised land. This very image became deeply embedded in the Mexican psyche, a potent symbol of identity and destiny. Throughout history, the serpent and eagle have appeared in countless forms, symbolizing conflict, wisdom, and power. Consider, for example, the serpent in the Garden of Eden or the eagle in Roman imperial iconography. The endurance and transformation of these symbols reveal the powerful currents of collective memory and the unconscious, continually shaping our cultural narratives. The persistence of such potent imagery speaks to the deep-seated human need for symbols that encapsulate our history, identity, and aspirations. The serpent and eagle, locked in eternal struggle, resonate with our own inner conflicts and the ongoing drama of human existence.