Nothing is known of the origins of the modern Aztec priestess called Nyola with any certainty.  She has been rumored to be a "Daughter of Montezuma" but whether that is literal or a title she has assumed for herself is not clear.  While she arrived in the US from Mexico, it is not known with certainty if she is of Mexican origin.

She first came to public attention in the autumn of 1940 in New York City.  Hawkman, on patrol one evening, saw cops leaving a murder scene and swooped in to investigate.  There he found the victim oddly murdered by drowning and a dropped note saying "Yum Chac" alongside a ceremonial glass knife.  Returning his library, he learned that Yum Chac was the name of the Mayan rain god (or Tlaloc in Aztec religions) and he decides to consult Chet Norris, an expert on Central American religions.  Arriving he finds that an "Indian woman" had been there already and kidnapped Norris' sister Irene as a sacrifice to Yum Chac.

On a boat bound for Mexico, the discovers the glass knife missing and sends a minion back to the murder scene to recover it.  The man finds Hawkman waiting and after a brief tussle, the minion is subdued and searched.  Hawkman finds a ticket on the S.S. Meridian and finds it headed out to sea.   He arranged passage on a following vessel while the Meridian arrives first and the Aztec party escapes into the mountain.  When Hawkamn arrives he consults with local sheriffs and learns the woman, named Nyola, heads an ancient Aztec cult that has been terrorizing the local.  He pledges to help Hawkman if the hero can create an opening.

Following Nyola he finds her in an ancient temple with a deep rain pool at the bottom.  Sacrifices to Yum Chac are dropped to the depths and if they are worthy, drown as an accepted sacrifice.   Hawkman arrives just as Irene is flung into the pool.  He catches her just as she hits the water.  The enraged cultists break rank to attack Hawkman en masse but his distraction allows the sheriff's men to enter the fray.  Sensing defeat, Nyola flings herself into the pool.  Irene and Chet reveal that their studies had earned Nyola's ire. hence being targeted and the drowned woman had learned of the priestess plans and been targeted for murder.   Assuming Nyola drowned, the case of Nyola is considered closed (All-Star Comics #2)