AZTECS

THE AZTECS

THE WORLD IS DESTROYED

THE BEGINNING

OMECIHUATL

This God was both good and bad it was chaos and order. It is also male and female. it was able to have children. It had four, which came to represent the four directions of north, south, east and west. The gods were Huizilopochtli (south), Quetzalcoatl (east), Tezcatlipoca (west), and Xipe Totec (north).

THE AZTEC GODS

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 5 SUNS

The first sun - Jaguar Sun (Nahui Ocelotl)
To complete the world, the great source of energy had to be created - the sun. This is the key to the cycles in the Aztec creation story. But the sun is so powerful, it can't just be created. It can only come into being through the sacrifice of a god. The god chosen was Tezcatlipoca.

Tezcatlipoca only managed to become half a sun, however, making this first creation incomplete. During the first age, the gods created giants from ashes, and gave them acorns to eat.

A fight began, however, between Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca. In the end, the sun was knocked from the sky, and in anger Tezcatlipoca sent jaguars to destroy the giants.

The second sun - Wind Sun (Nahui Ehecatl)

At this point Quetzalcoatl took over for his brother as the sun. Humans were created as they are now (normal size). They lived on piñon nuts, and for a while things were fine. But the people became corrupt, and perhaps out of revenge Tezcatlipoca turned them into monkeys. Furious, Quetzalcoatl sent a hurricane to blow the monkeys away.

The third sun - Rain Sun (Nahui Quiahuitl)

Tlaloc was one of the early creations of the gods, the god of rain and water. He became the next sun. But his personal problems became his downfall. Once again, Tezcatlipoca was the instigator. Tezcatlipoca stole Tlaloc's wife (Xochiquetzal), and Tlaloc was grief-stricken. He shone as the sun but refused to send rain, in spite of the pleas of the people. Drought swept the earth, and finally in a rage Tlaloc made it rain fire, burning away this version of the world. (Another version attributes the destruction of this world directly to the continuing battle between Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl).

The fourth sun - Water Sun (Nahui Atl)

The Aztec creation story continues... This time the gods selected Tlaloc's sister to be the sun. She was Calchiuhtlicue. But filled with jealousy, Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl struck down the sun. As she fell, the sky opened up and water flooded the earth. All things were destroyed again.

In the darkness between the suns, Quetzalcoatl descended into the underworld to bring up the bones of the dead. They would be used to bring to life the people who are now here. (That's a whole other story!)

The fifth sun - Earthquake Sun

The gods gathered to bring another sun into being. This is when the Aztec creation story really gets around to explaining what the world is today.

The proud god Tecuciztecatl offered himself, but the other gods preferred the humble Nanahuatzin. A great fire was built, but Tecuciztecatl was too afraid at the last minute to jump in. Nanahuatzin did jump. Filled with jealousy, Tecuciztecatl jumped after, followed by a brave eagle and jaguar.

Two suns began to rise in the east. It was too bright - the gods threw a rabbit into the face of Tecuciztecatl to dim the light, and he became the moon.

But Nanahuatzin was weak. He was motionless, so the other gods gave their blood to give him the energy to rush across the sky.

This is the world in which we now live. The Aztecs believed its end would come in massive earthquakes.

SOURCES

• http://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-folklore/aztec-creation-myths-...
• http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-creation-story.html
• Six other myths