Aztecs Believed Our World Is the Fifth in a Series of Suns

by John Agbo, age 14

Like all ancient civilizations, the Aztecs developed a distinct worldview rooted in their cultural beliefs and practices. They created elaborate myths to explain the natural phenomena around them, forming a framework for understanding their environment and existence. One of the most notable myths is the Legend of the Fifth Sun, which narrates the creation of the world and the heavens through a cosmic battle between gods and elemental forces. This struggle ultimately led to the establishment of the current era.

The Aztecs believed in a series of suns, with the Fifth Sun existing from the period of Spanish colonization to the modern era. They held that there were four suns before the current one and that the world had been destroyed several times under the reign of previous deities. Each god ascended to become the Sun by jumping into a sacrificial fire created by the old fire god, Huehuetéotl.

The first sun was ruled by Tezcatlipoca, also known as the Four-Tiger Sun or Black Tezcatlipoca, but his sun was too small, meaning there wasn’t enough light. His dominance lasted for 676 years, corresponding to 13 cycles of 52 years in the Mesoamerican calendar, until his brother, Quetzalcoatl, knocked him out of the sky with a stick.

The second sun was governed by Quetzalcoatl and is often referred to as the White Tezcatlipoca. This era also lasted for 676 years. When a storm destroyed this world because Tezcatlipoca knocked his brother down as a jaguar, those who clung to the trees were transformed into monkeys.

The third sun, known as the Four-Rain Sun, was led by Tlalo, the rain god. His reign lasted for seven cycles, totaling 364 years. When Quetzalcoatl arrived, the world's destruction came in a rain of fire and ashes. The survivors of this destruction transformed into dogs, turkeys, and butterflies.

The fourth sun, known as the Four Water Sun, was ruled by Chalchiuhlicue, both the wife and sister of Tlalo. This world lasted for 676 years. Due to the relentless rain, the world experienced flooding, causing mortals to transform into fish and the sky to collapse. When the era concluded, Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl mended the sky and met in the center, referring to themselves as the “Rulers of all,” leaving behind a path known as the White Road or the Milky Way.

The fifth sun was initially meant to be ruled by Tecuciztecatl, the Lord of Snails. However, when it came time for his self-sacrifice to ascend to the sun god, he hesitated. Taking advantage of this, the humble god, Nanahuatzin, stepped in to take his place. As both gods ascended, the other deities realized that having two suns would be too bright for the world. To resolve this, they hurled a rabbit at Tecuciztecatl, causing him to transform into the moon. After this, the fifth sun became known as the Four-Movement Sun, governed by Tonatiuh, with the day sign Ollin marking its significance. Its movement was seen by the Aztecs as an indication of the end.

Many civilizations have their interpretations of the world and its origin. The Legend of the Fifth Sun reflects the Aztecs' understanding of time, the cyclical nature of existence, and their deep reverence for the powerful forces that shaped their reality.

[Source: ThoughtCo.; Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute]