Nanauatzin

In Aztec mythology, the god Nanauatl (or Nanauatzin, the sufix tzin implies respect or familiarity) sacrificed himself in fire so that it would continue to shine on Earth as the sun, thus becoming the sun god.

The aztecs had several different myths about the creation. In the legend of Quetalcoatl, Nanauatl helps Quetzalcoatl to obtain the first grains which will be the food of humankind.

Nanauatl is best known in the legend "of the fifth sun", Recopilated by Sahagun.

The legend explains there had been other four creations, and in each creation, one of the mayor gods (Quetalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc, Ehecatl) has taken the job of being the sun. Each creation had ended because the gods were not satisfied with the men they had created. But finally they had created man from corn, and they need someone to take the task of being the sun, but none of the gods wants to do it, since they need need to be sacrified. Finally, Tecciztecatl, accept, because he is proud and rich. The gods accept him, but they need someone else, so they chose nanauatl. His is humble and accept, because it´s his duty.

They are purified. Tecciztecatl offers rich presents, and coral instead of blood. Nanauatl offers his blood, and makes penitence.

The gods make a big fire, which burns for four days. when Tecciztecatl try to jump into the fire, he fails four times,the heath is so strong, he can`t do it. So the gods ask for Nanauatl. He closes his eyes to control his fears, and jumps. When Tecciztecatl sees he has jump, he feels his proud and jumps after him.

Nothing happens at first. But eventually two suns appears in the sky. The gos are angry, because Tecciztecatl is still following Nanauatl, and they glow exactly the same, so one of the gods takes a rabbit and throws in the face of Tecciztecatl. He lost his brilliance, and the rabit is marked on his face. So he becames the moon, and the moon has the mark of a rabbit.

But the sun did not moves. The gods accept they need to die, so the men could live. the god Ehecatl, the god of the wind, sacrifices all the gods, and then with a powerfull wind, makes the sun begins to move.

Men need to repaid the gods their sacrifice.

And importan aspect of this legend, is the dead of the gods. The aztec gods had no real power, because they are dead, and only exists in the spiritual world, except Ehecatl. Ehecatl, the wind becames the symbols of the forces of natures, we cna´t se it, but we can feel his power.