| abstract
| - Four decades ago, Cancun was a deserted island and few even knew of its existence. Located in a nearly forgotten region of the Caribbean, it consisted of a series of sand dunes in the shape of a number “7" –some parts of which were only 20 meters (66 ft) wide– separated from the mainland by two narrow canals that opened out on to a huge lagoon system. The coast comprised marshes, mangroves, virgin jungle, and unexplored beaches. Although Cancun is frequently translated as "nest of snakes," it actually refers to the snake totem known as Kukulcán or Quetzalcoatl. The etymology was recently discussed at considerable length on the FAMSI (Foundation for the Advancement of Meso-American Studies, Inc.) listserv. Interpretations varied considerably, but the idea that the name means anything like nest of snakes was not supported by the scholars on the list. In the first documents of Infratur (a government agency existing prior to the creation of Fonatur), it is written as two words, “Kan Kun,” and occasionally, “Can Cun” (in its Spanish form). The current name of “Cancún” is a natural phonetic development that facilitates pronunciation... or maybe it developed by mere chance.
|