Miguel Leon-Portilla

Miguel León-Portilla was a Mexican scholar who devoted his life to the study of the ancient and contemporary Nahuatl-speaking peoples of Mexico. He was a pioneer in the field of ethnohistory, which combines historical sources and anthropological methods to reconstruct the past of indigenous societies. He was also a prolific writer and translator of Nahuatl texts, bringing to light the rich and diverse literary heritage of the Aztecs and their descendants. He taught at the National Autonomous University of Mexico for more than six decades, and was a member of several prestigious academic institutions, such as the National College, the Mexican Academy of Language, and the Mexican Academy of History. He received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture, such as the National Prize of Arts and Sciences, the Belisario Domínguez Medal, and the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress. He died at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of more than 50 books and hundreds of articles that have inspired generations of students and scholars.