Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs

In Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs, Muñoz Ryan gives the monarch butterflies and Lázaro magical properties. In real life, both creatures have deep cultural significance for the Mexican people.

Native Mexicans considered the monarch sacred. Monarch butterflies appear in ancient Aztec wood carvings and paintings. The Purépecha, an indigenous Mexican people, believed that the monarchs “carried the spirits of warriors” and that the sound of their beating wings were “messages from the afterlife” (Merotto, Tia. “Winged Messengers: How Monarch Butterflies Connect Culture and Conservation in Mexico.” Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage, 31 Oct. 2022).

The monarch is still venerated in Mexico today. Monarch butterflies end their 3,000-mile migratory journey in the central Mexican oyamel fir forests at the beginning of November—when people in Mexico celebrate Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. The return of the monarchs during this time is symbolically important. On November 1 and 2, people honor and pray for their ancestors and departed loved ones by visiting their graves and setting up ofrendas, or altars. The monarch represents the souls of the deceased returning to visit their families.

Ofrendas incorporate images of monarchs, and the butterfly features in celebratory costumes, dances, and songs. Contemporary teacher and artist Noemi Hernandez-Balcazar grew up in Mexico and remembers how reverently monarchs are treated. She comments: “There was an understanding that you didn’t mistreat a monarch, because they contained a soul within them […] You had to be extremely respectful” (Merotto). Today, the monarchs continue to play an important role in Mexican culture, symbolically linking the living and dead. In the novel, Muñoz Ryan honors the monarchs’ cultural relevance and the need for their conservation.

Like the monarch butterfly, the quetzal also has special cultural significance in Mexico and Guatemala and is also in need of protection. Lázaro is a resplendent quetzal. In this case, “resplendent” is the name of his species, not just an adjective meaning magnificent—though Lázaro is certainly magnificent. The resplendent quetzal sports multi-colored iridescent plumage. It has a stunning, nearly three-foot-long blue-green tail, a gold-green head and crest, and a bright red belly. Scholars think that the ancient Mesoamerican god Quetzalcóatl, the feathered serpent who created the earth and mankind, was inspired by the quetzal.

The quetzal is also connected to the Guatemalan warrior hero, Tecún Umán, a Mayan leader who fought for freedom from Spanish rule. In one legend, Tecún Umán went into battle against the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado wearing quetzal feathers and accompanied by his quetzal nahual, or spirit guardian. When Tecún Umán was killed, his grief-stricken quetzal companion flew down to his body and Tecún Umán’s blood soaked into its feathers, which is why, according to legend, quetzals have red chest and bellies. In Guatemala, the quetzal symbolizes freedom: Lore says that a quetzal will die if kept in captivity. Tecún Umán is still celebrated as a national hero in Guatemala every February 20th.

The Mayans and Aztecs considered the quetzal sacred, believing that the bird represented light and goodness. For the Mayans, the quetzal also represented wealth. The Mayans used the quetzal’s beautiful feathers for currency—though it was a crime to kill one of the birds. Instead, they would pluck some feathers and set the quetzal free. Today, Guatemalan currency is still called the quetzal, and the resplendent quetzal, with its bright colors and long tail, appears on the country’s banknotes. The quetzal is also the Guatemalan national bird. It features on the Guatemalan coat of arms and flag. Even the Guatemalan national anthem references the quetzal’s passion for freedom over captivity.

Deforestation and agricultural clearing are diminishing the quetzals’ habitat and consequently, their population. The resplendent quetzal, like the monarch butterfly, is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Near Threatened list. By featuring these two at-risk species in the novel, Muñoz Ryan emphasizes the pressing need for their environmental protection.