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In Aztec mythology, the creation and destruction of the world are explained through the concept of the “Five Suns.” Each sun represents an era or age in which the gods created and then destroyed the world in various cataclysmic events. Here’s a brief overview of each sun:
First Sun (Nahui-Ocelotl, Jaguar Sun)
God: Tezcatlipoca
Description: This era was ruled by Tezcatlipoca, who turned into a jaguar. The people of this age were giants who lived off acorns.
End: This sun ended when jaguars devoured the giants, leading to the destruction of the world.
Nahui-Ocelotl, also known as the “Jaguar Sun” or the “First Sun,” is the first era in Aztec mythology. Here are the key details:
Nahui-Ocelotl
Meaning: “Nahui” means “four,” and “Ocelotl” means “jaguar” in Nahuatl, indicating the era characterized by jaguars.
God: Tezcatlipoca, the god associated with night, sorcery, and jaguars, ruled this era. Tezcatlipoca is one of the central deities in Aztec mythology.
Creation: This sun was created by the gods as the very first era of the world.
Characteristics: The people of this era were giants who lived on acorns and other wild foods. They were described as being much larger and stronger than the humans of subsequent eras.
End: Nahui-Ocelotl ended when Tezcatlipoca transformed into a jaguar and caused jaguars to descend upon the earth, devouring the giants and bringing the world to its end. This destruction marked the close of the First Sun.
Significance: The use of jaguars as the agents of destruction reflects Tezcatlipoca’s association with these powerful and fearsome animals. The end of the First Sun by jaguars symbolizes the raw, primal power of nature and the gods’ influence over the world.
The myth of Nahui-Ocelotl emphasizes the Aztec belief in the cyclical nature of creation and destruction, with each sun or era ending in a dramatic, transformative event. The jaguar, a symbol of strength and fear, played a crucial role in the transition from the First Sun to the subsequent eras.
Second Sun (Nahui-Ehécatl, Wind Sun)
God: Quetzalcoatl
Description: The second sun was governed by Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god. Humans in this age were transformed into monkeys.
End: This era ended with fierce hurricanes and winds that blew away the people, who then turned into monkeys.
Nahui-Ehécatl
Meaning: “Nahui” means “four,” and “Ehécatl” means “wind” in Nahuatl, indicating the era characterized by wind.
God: Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god, ruled this era. Quetzalcoatl is associated with wind, air, and learning.
Creation: This sun was created by the gods after the end of the First Sun, Nahui-Ocelotl.
Characteristics: The people of this era were transformed into monkeys. This transformation reflects the association with the playful and agile nature of monkeys, which also symbolizes the chaos brought by wind.
End: Nahui-Ehécatl ended in a great hurricane. According to the myth, Quetzalcoatl caused a massive windstorm that swept away the people and everything on the earth. The hurricane was so powerful that it blew the people into the trees, where they were transformed into monkeys.
Third Sun (Nahui-Quiahuitl, Rain Sun)
God: Tlaloc
Description: Tlaloc, the god of rain, ruled this sun. The people of this time were turned into birds.
End: The world ended with a rain of fire, destroying everything and transforming the people into birds.
Nahui-Quiahuitl, also known as the “Rain Sun” or the “Third Sun,” is one of the ages in Aztec mythology. Here are the key details:
Nahui-Quiahuitl (Rain Sun)
Meaning: “Nahui” means “four,” and “Quiahuitl” means “rain” in Nahuatl, indicating the era characterized by rain.
God: Tlaloc, the god of rain, water, and fertility, ruled this era. Tlaloc was a prominent deity in Aztec mythology, associated with agriculture and sustenance through rain.
Creation: This sun was created by the gods after the end of the Second Sun, Nahui-Ehécatl.
Characteristics: The people of this era were said to have been turned into birds. This transformation reflects the close association with the sky and the rain that characterized Tlaloc’s influence.
End: Nahui-Quiahuitl ended in a cataclysmic rain of fire. According to the myth, Tlaloc caused a devastating downpour of fire and burning stones that destroyed the world. The people of this era, who were transformed into birds, managed to escape into the sky.
Significance: The rain of fire symbolizes the destructive and purifying aspects of nature, highlighting the power of the gods to both create and destroy.
Fourth Sun (Nahui-Atl, Water Sun)
Goddess: Chalchiuhtlicue
Description: Chalchiuhtlicue, the goddess of rivers and water, presided over this era. The people were transformed into fish.
End: This world was destroyed by great floods, and the people turned into fish.
Nahui-Atl (Water Sun)
Meaning: “Nahui” means “four,” and “Atl” means “water” in Nahuatl, indicating the era characterized by water.
Goddess: Chalchiuhtlicue, the goddess of rivers, lakes, and water, was the deity presiding over this era. She was associated with fertility and life-giving waters.
Creation: This sun was created by the gods after the end of the Third Sun, Nahui-Quiahuitl.
Characteristics: During this era, the people of the world were said to be transformed into fish. The world was abundant with water and life sustained by it.
End: Nahui-Atl ended in a great flood. The myth states that the goddess Chalchiuhtlicue wept for 52 years, causing a deluge that submerged the world. The floodwaters destroyed everything, and the people were transformed into fish to survive the watery cataclysm.
Significance: This era’s end by water is a significant representation of the destructive power of water in Aztec mythology. The transformation of humans into fish symbolizes adaptation and survival through transformation.
Fifth Sun (Nahui-Ollin, Earthquake Sun)
Gods: Tonatiuh (the Sun God) and Tezcatlipoca
Description: The current age is ruled by Tonatiuh, who demanded blood sacrifices to ensure the sun would continue to move across the sky.
Future End: It is believed that this sun will end in massive earthquakes.
Nahui-Ollin (Sun of Movement)
Meaning: “Nahui” means “four,” and “Ollin” means “movement” in Nahuatl, indicating the movement or change that characterizes this era.
Gods: The primary deity associated with this sun is Tonatiuh, the Sun God. However, Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl also play significant roles in the creation and maintenance of this era.
According to the myth, the gods gathered at Teotihuacan to create a new sun after the previous four had been destroyed. Two gods, Tecuciztecatl and Nanahuatzin, sacrificed themselves by leaping into a great fire, becoming the sun and the moon, respectively. However, it was the sacrifice of other gods, who offered their blood to set the new sun in motion, that ensured Tonatiuh would rise and continue to move across the sky.
This era is marked by movement and constant change, symbolized by earthquakes. Human beings in this age are expected to provide regular blood sacrifices to keep the sun moving. This belief underpinned the Aztec practice of human sacrifice.
Nahui-Ollin is prophesied to end through massive and devastating earthquakes. This apocalyptic vision emphasizes the belief in a cyclical universe where creation and destruction are inevitable and recurrent.