Image taken from page 33 of "Aztlan. The history, resources and attractions of New Mexico. Embellished with maps and illustrations" by William G. Ritch, 1885. Montezuma was the name of a hero-god in the mythology of certain Indian tribes of the Southwest United States, notably the Tohono O'odham and Pueblo peoples. Montezuma appears as a Noah figure in the culture, in communication with a supreme deity referred to as Great Spirit. Montezuma's legend parallels that of the Judeo-Christian biblical figures. Montezuma figures prominently in the religion of the Pueblo Indians, who held that their god-king Montezuma was variously from Taos Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, or one of the other pueblos, and was conceived from a beautiful virgin and a pinyon pine nut. Although weak as a youth, he was chosen to be their unlikely leader, and surprised everyone with his miracles, including the ability to produce rain. He taught the people their customs, and how to build the adobe pueblos. One day he kindled a fire that they were never to allow to burn out, then departed for Mexico (in some versions, on the back of an eagle), promising to return some day and save them from the Spanish.