Myths
The Creation of the Sun and the Moon
When the Gods decided it was time for a new creation, they assembled themselves to decide who should receive the task of becoming the sun. After some discussion, it was decided that two of them, Tecuciztecatl and Nanauatzin, should sacrifice themselves to bring light to the world. The two Gods then began to do penance by fasting for four days while the fire was built in the hearth. Tecuciztecatl, a wealthy and proud God, did penance with costly and extravagant items such as fir branches of quetzal feathers, grass balls of gold, gold incense and coral. Nanauatzin, a poorer, sickly God, could only afford to do his penance with fir branches made of green water rushes, grass balls of dried pine needles, and his own blood.
When the time came for the two to sacrifice themselves, the Gods first commanded Tecuciztecatl to cast himself into the fire to become the sun. He attempted this four times but always found the heat too unbearable once he neared the flames and retreated. Nanautzin however, was determined and resolved and did not falter, but quickly threw himself into the fire and was burned. Upon seeing this, Tecuciztecatl was shamed and quickly threw himself into the fire also.
Quetzalcoatl and the other Gods waited to see where Nanauatzin would rise to the sky as the sun. Finally in the east, he appeared with a blinding red light, shining so intensely it was impossible to look into his face. Later, Tecuciztecatl followed his path, equal in appearance so that the Gods asked themselves whether the two should be allowed to shine together. Then one of the Gods came out with a rabbit and threw it at the face of Tecuciztecatl, wounding him and causing his face to be darkened. His brilliance was lessened from that of the sun, and he is now known as the moon.
The Aztecs believed in four previous historical eras called Suns or Worlds. Each of these was ruled and destroyed by different Gods.
In the era of the First Sun, mankind lived in the shade of giant trees and ate maize and fruits the Gods had given them. Eventually the people forgot the ways of their Gods and began to live only for themselves. The Gods decided to destroy the world and begin anew with creation. But before sending down a massive flood to drown out all living things, the Gods took favour on a poor couple and instructed them to build a boat so that they might be saved. Afraid of drowning, people pleaded to their Gods to change them into fish, and so it was done. When the waters receded, the couple stepped off the tree-trunk boat they had made, and thus began the world of the Second Sun.
The offspring of the saved couple lived for many years before they too forgot the ways of the Gods. This time the world was destroyed by fierce winds that even swept the sun form the sky. Again one couple had been saved, the people begged for mercy and were changed into animals so they could hide in mountain caves and avoid the wind.
The story of the Third Sun follows a similar format, only this time the earth is destroyed by fire. Volcanoes erupt with lava and the people beg to be changed to birds to fly above the danger. In the Fourth Sun, there were plenty of plants, fish animals and birds to eat, but still, the people became wicked and brought about another destruction. This time the Goddess of the earth told the Gods of water, air and fire to go and rest in a cave because the people were undeserving of their services. Then there was no rain, no wind, no sun, but only darkness, and all the crops died. The people pleaded to be saved from starvation, and the Goddess of the earth commanded jaguars to eat evil ones and spare only the righteous people of the earth. Then the three Gods of water, air and fire emerged from the cave and the sun gave light to the Fifth World.
In this period of the Fifth Sun, people rejoiced and there was peace and happiness on earth for many years. Since many deities were ruling together, this sun is seen as more stable than the previous worlds. But unless evil can be removed from the hearts of people, it is doomed to destruction.
