Totonacs

Totonacs, a Mexican people of the Sierra de Huauchinango, states of Puebla and Vent Cruz, traditionally from the Anahuac tableland, whence they were driven east by the Chichimecs and Aztecs some centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards; appear to be a branch of the Maya family, closely related to the neighbouring Huaztecs of Vera Cruz. The Totonacs were one of the civilised peoples of the New World, and to them are attributed several monuments, such as the two pyramids of Teotihuacan. Zempoala, centre of their power, was reduced by Montezuma a short time before the arrival of the Spaniards. The Totonacs, that is, "Three Hearts," so called from the hearts of three youths, triennially offered to the gods in pagan times, still number (1893) about 90,000, all nominal Christians.