Leyenda de los Soles

Five Suns

The Mexica said the world had already been made and unmade four times. Each age is named for a day-sign. The story is told in the Legend of the Suns (Codex Chimalpopoca) and carved around Tonatiuh's face on the Piedra del Sol.

1. 
   IEnded

   Nahui Ocelotl

   Four Jaguar

   Ruled by

   Tezcatlipoca

   Ended by

   Jaguars

   The people

   The giants were eaten

   In the first age the sun was Tezcatlipoca, Smoking Mirror, and the people were giants. Quetzalcoatl struck him from the sky with a great blow. Night fell. Tezcatlipoca, in jaguar form, sent his brothers through the dark to devour the giants. The day-name of that ruined world is Four Jaguar — still carved in the upper right of the Sun Stone.

2. 
   IIEnded

   Nahui Ehecatl

   Four Wind

   Ruled by

   Quetzalcoatl

   Ended by

   Hurricanes

   The people

   Monkeys

   Quetzalcoatl became the second sun. Tezcatlipoca returned the blow: he toppled that sun, and the world was torn apart by wind. People were swept into trees and became monkeys — the ones, the old books say, who still live in the canopy. Four Wind is the name of that age, the hurricane that taught the gods a sun can be knocked down twice.

3. 
   IIIEnded

   Nahui Quiahuitl

   Four Rain

   Ruled by

   Tlaloc

   Ended by

   A rain of fire

   The people

   Birds

   Tlaloc, giver of rain and maize, took the third sun. When Tezcatlipoca stole his wife Xochiquetzal, Tlaloc withheld the water and then sent the other rain: fire. Ash and burning stones fell. Those who lived became birds and lifted off the scoured ground. Four Rain is the storm that does not nourish.

4. 
   IVEnded

   Nahui Atl

   Four Water

   Ruled by

   Chalchiuhtlicue

   Ended by

   Flood

   The people

   Fish

   Chalchiuhtlicue — She of the Jade Skirt, Tlaloc's partner and goddess of running water — became the fourth sun. The world drowned. Mountains of water covered the land, and the people became fish. One couple, in some tellings, survived as dogs. Four Water is the flood that still lives in every river's memory.

5. 
   VThis world

   Nahui Ollin

   Four Movement

   Ruled by

   Tonatiuh

   Ended by

   Earthquakes — not yet

   The people

   Us. This world.

   After the flood the gods gathered at Teotihuacan to kindle a fifth sun. Proud Tecuciztecatl hesitated before the fire. Nanahuatzin, the humble god of sores, jumped. He became Tonatiuh. Tecuciztecatl jumped after him; the gods threw a rabbit at his face so there would not be two suns, and he became the moon. Ehecatl the wind blew until the new sun moved. This age is Four Movement. The Mexica said it would end in earthquake. Until then the sun stays in the sky only as long as we keep it moving.

After Nanahuatzin jumped the fire at Teotihuacan, Ehecatl blew until the new sun moved. That motion is Ollin. Meet the gods who keep it.