The Aztec myth of the unlikeliest sun god - Kay Almere Read

Summary

In Aztec mythology, Nanahuatl, the weakest and sickly god, is chosen to become the Fifth Sun. After a four-day ritual, he bravely leaps into the bonfire, becoming the sun, while the proud Tecciztecatl, who hesitates, becomes the moon. The gods' sacrifices to the sun enable its movement across the sky, marking the beginning of the current age, with Nanahuatl's humility and bravery inspiring all.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Aztec mythology describes a sequence of four previous worlds, each created and destroyed by different catastrophic events.
• 🌞 The Fifth Sun was established through a sacrificial ritual involving gods who had to become the sun to provide light and life to the new world.
• 🐍 Lord Quetzalcoatl played a crucial role by obtaining the bones of previous people and using his own blood to create new life.
• 🔥 Two gods, Nanahuatl and Tecciztecatl, were chosen to sacrifice themselves to become the sun, with Nanahuatl being the humble and Tecciztecatl the proud and wealthy.
• 🕊️ Nanahuatl, despite his humble means, completed a four-day fasting and bloodletting ritual, showing his commitment to the task.
• 💎 Tecciztecatl, with his riches, flaunted his offerings but hesitated to leap into the fire, showing his fear and lack of bravery.
• ✨ Nanahuatl's selfless act of leaping into the flames was rewarded as he became the Fifth Sun, with the gods adorning him and placing him on a throne.
• 🐅 Tecciztecatl, after witnessing Nanahuatl's bravery, attempted his own leap but only reached the cooled ashes, symbolizing his lesser commitment.
• 🌙 The moon, represented by Tecciztecatl, also shines brightly but is dimmed by a rabbit thrown by a god, reflecting his pride and lesser bravery.
• 🌌 Nanahuatl, as the new sun, initially did not move through the sky, causing concern among the gods and prompting further action.
• 🔮 The gods eventually agreed to sacrifice themselves to nourish Nanahuatl, the new sun, enabling him to move through the sky and bring about the Fifth Age.
• 🌟 The story highlights the importance of humility, bravery, and sacrifice, with Nanahuatl's actions inspiring the gods and ensuring the continuation of the world.

Q & A

Who was chosen to form the new world in the Aztec myth?

Nanahuatl, described as the weakest of the Aztec gods, was chosen to form the new world.

What were the four previous worlds destroyed by in the myth?

The first world was destroyed by jaguars, the second by winds, the third by rains of fire, and the fourth by floods.

What did Lord Quetzalcoatl do to create new life for the Fifth Sun?

Lord Quetzalcoatl went to the underworld, returned with the bones of earlier people, and nourished them with his own blood to create new life.

What was the task assigned to Nanahuatl and Tecciztecatl in the myth?

Nanahuatl and Tecciztecatl were chosen to leap into a great bonfire to become the Fifth Sun and the moon, respectively.

How did Nanahuatl and Tecciztecatl prepare for their task?

They had to complete a four-day fasting and bloodletting ritual using cactus thorns and fir branches for Nanahuatl, and jade spines and quetzal feathers for Tecciztecatl.

Why did Tecciztecatl fail to become the sun initially?

Tecciztecatl approached the flames four times but pulled back in fear each time, showing his lack of bravery.

How did Nanahuatl's leap into the fire change him?

After leaping into the fire, Nanahuatl was transformed by Lord and Lady Sustenance, who bathed him, placed him on a feathered throne, and wrapped a red band around his head, making him the Fifth Sun.

What happened to Tecciztecatl after Nanahuatl became the sun?

Inspired by Nanahuatl's bravery, Tecciztecatl threw himself into the cooled ashes of the fire. A jaguar attempted to carry him into the sky, but he was dressed in rags by a band of goddesses and had a rabbit thrown in his face to dim his light.

Why did Nanahuatl, as the new sun, not move through the sky initially?

Nanahuatl needed the nourishing blood of the other gods to move through the sky, as he had sacrificed himself to become the sun.

How did the gods resolve the issue of Nanahuatl not moving through the sky?

Five other gods agreed to sacrifice themselves, and as the last god made the sacrifice, Lord Quetzalcoatl reignited the fire, allowing the sun to move through the sky and usher in the fifth age.