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There are
many different variations of the Aztec Creation story; this is one of the most
popular versions. The Aztecs believed
that there was an actual beginning to the universe. They believed that to make a world and sun, a
god had to be sacrificed. The theory
that there were five suns created as well as five worlds is the most believed
one. “The five suns were the key to the
rebirths of the world” (www.aztec-history.com).
The Aztecs believed that the duel god Ometecuhtli being both good and bad, as well as both male and female had four children. These four children represented the four directions (North, South, East, West) the directions were very important to the Aztecs because they believed that they were at the center of the universe.
The four children became gods and started to create things like water, other gods and a sea monster named Cipactli. Cipactli was portrayed as a part fish and part crocodile and was as big as everything we have ever known. Cipactli was known as the consumer because she had jaws at every joint in her body, she would begin to eat all the gods creations that fell into the water which enraged the four gods. This prompted a war between the four gods and the sea monster, in the end the monster was defeated but the god of the West (also known as Tezcatlipoca) lost his foot in the fight. The monsters massive body then became the world, her head becoming the heavens, middle becoming the Earth and her tail becoming the underground.
The Aztecs believed that the duel god Ometecuhtli being both good and bad, as well as both male and female had four children. These four children represented the four directions (North, South, East, West) the directions were very important to the Aztecs because they believed that they were at the center of the universe.
The four children became gods and started to create things like water, other gods and a sea monster named Cipactli. Cipactli was portrayed as a part fish and part crocodile and was as big as everything we have ever known. Cipactli was known as the consumer because she had jaws at every joint in her body, she would begin to eat all the gods creations that fell into the water which enraged the four gods. This prompted a war between the four gods and the sea monster, in the end the monster was defeated but the god of the West (also known as Tezcatlipoca) lost his foot in the fight. The monsters massive body then became the world, her head becoming the heavens, middle becoming the Earth and her tail becoming the underground.
First Sun
Before the world could be complete, there needed to be an energy source. To create the sun, a god needed to be sacrificed. The god Tezcatlipoca was chosen but only completed half of his transformation into the sun. Out of the ashes that came from the sun, huge giants were created. The East god Quetzalcoatl became jealous of Tezcatlipoca and started a fight, causing the sun to be knocked out of the sky. Out of anger Tezcatlipoca sent jaguars down to the ground the kill all the giants.
Second Sun
Quetzalcoatl took over being the sun after the first attempt failed. In the stage of the sun, humans were created as we are now but the humans became corrupted and greedy. Believed as payback, Tezcatlipoca turned the humans into monkeys which made Quetzalcoatl fill with rage, making a huge hurricane to blow the monkeys away.
Third Sun
Tlaloc (god of rain and water) became the next sun but started to fail quickly. Tezcatlipoca then stole Tlaloc’s wife which made him heartbroken. Tlaloc as a sun shone bright, but he would not allow rain to fall down on his begging people. This resulted in a drought and out of rage, Tlaloc created a huge fire that destroyed his world.
Forth Sun
After Tlaloc destroyed his world, his sister was chosen to become the next sun. Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl became filled with jealousy and struck her down out of the sky. Water began to rush in the hole in the sky, flooding the land below and destroying it once again. In the darkness, Quetzalcoatl went into the underworld to bring up the bones of the dead and create the people we are now.
Fifth Sun
The fifth sun is the one we have now and the world we live in that was created with this sun. The gods all gathered to decide who would become the next sun, Tecuciztecatl offered himself to the gods, the gods preferred Nanahuatzin over him but agreed none the less.
A great fire was built for Tecuciztecatl to jump into so he would become the sun, but backed out at the last minute. Nanahuatzin was the one to jump and out of jealousy Tecuciztecatl jumped in after him followed by an eagle and a jaguar. The two suns began to rise in the East, but Tecuciztecatl was too bright so the gods threw a rabbit at him to dim his light, creating the moon.
Before the world could be complete, there needed to be an energy source. To create the sun, a god needed to be sacrificed. The god Tezcatlipoca was chosen but only completed half of his transformation into the sun. Out of the ashes that came from the sun, huge giants were created. The East god Quetzalcoatl became jealous of Tezcatlipoca and started a fight, causing the sun to be knocked out of the sky. Out of anger Tezcatlipoca sent jaguars down to the ground the kill all the giants.
Second Sun
Quetzalcoatl took over being the sun after the first attempt failed. In the stage of the sun, humans were created as we are now but the humans became corrupted and greedy. Believed as payback, Tezcatlipoca turned the humans into monkeys which made Quetzalcoatl fill with rage, making a huge hurricane to blow the monkeys away.
Third Sun
Tlaloc (god of rain and water) became the next sun but started to fail quickly. Tezcatlipoca then stole Tlaloc’s wife which made him heartbroken. Tlaloc as a sun shone bright, but he would not allow rain to fall down on his begging people. This resulted in a drought and out of rage, Tlaloc created a huge fire that destroyed his world.
Forth Sun
After Tlaloc destroyed his world, his sister was chosen to become the next sun. Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl became filled with jealousy and struck her down out of the sky. Water began to rush in the hole in the sky, flooding the land below and destroying it once again. In the darkness, Quetzalcoatl went into the underworld to bring up the bones of the dead and create the people we are now.
Fifth Sun
The fifth sun is the one we have now and the world we live in that was created with this sun. The gods all gathered to decide who would become the next sun, Tecuciztecatl offered himself to the gods, the gods preferred Nanahuatzin over him but agreed none the less.
A great fire was built for Tecuciztecatl to jump into so he would become the sun, but backed out at the last minute. Nanahuatzin was the one to jump and out of jealousy Tecuciztecatl jumped in after him followed by an eagle and a jaguar. The two suns began to rise in the East, but Tecuciztecatl was too bright so the gods threw a rabbit at him to dim his light, creating the moon.