This story is based on a legend that is over one thousand years old, a Toltec myth.
In the beginning, five worlds and five suns were created one after the other. There were suns of the earth, fire, air, water, and rock. The first world was destroyed because its people acted badly. The people were devoured by ocelots and its sun died. The second sun, the pure orb, witnessed human beings transformed into monkeys for their lack of wisdom. Then the sun of fire appeared, whose world was destroyed by flames, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because the people living in it were impious and did not sacrifice to the gods. The fourth world perished in a great flood which also drowned its sun.
Before the dawn of the fifth, what is our present world age, all the gods assembled in darkness to request a new sun to illuminate the world. They would decide who should have the honor to light up the fifth world. It would be a dangerous honor.
One god, Tecciztecatl, presented himself. Tecciztecatl was self-regarding, very beautiful, had many riches, and excellent health. He dressed in splendid robes. He made offerings of fine goods, like quetzal feathers, coral incense, and stone flints. Also, he offered himself, thinking to get much admiration from the other gods.
The gods ascertained that he could become the deity of the sun. The gods also decided that there was a need for a god of the moon.
The lowliest of all the gods, Nanautzin, also stepped forward. Nanautzin was a small and humble god, very poor and sickly. He was dressed in humble garments made of woven reed. He was ugly, and his body was malformed and covered with scabs and sores. None of the gods had ever paid attention to him and he did not stand out among the gods. He offered simple reeds and cactus thorns to ffer his own blood. Instead of incense, he offered the scabs from his body. He offered to renew the world and light up the sun by jumping into the fire.
For four days and four nights both prepared themselves with rites of penance and purification. Different penances were completed by both participants, to be worthy of shining like the sun.
After going through four days of purification, the gods built a huge fire on the top of a pyramid.
When the time came, the gods said to to Tecciztecatl, “Light up the world!”
“How?” asked Tecciztecatl. He was dressed in irredescent hummingbird feathers and jewels of gold and turquoise.
“By jumping into the fire, O Tecciztecatl”, said the gods.
Yet Teccitzecatl was afraid. He approached the sacred fire and was driven back by the heat. He tried four times to immolate himself, and four times the flames, the heat, and his fear drove him back. He did not have the courage and each time he was unsuccessful.
Seeing the cowardice of Tecciztecatl, Nanautzin was summoned to throw himself into the sacred fire. The gods all cried with one voice, “O Scabby One, be thou the one who brings back the Sun!”
Nanautzin stepped forward.
Without any hesitation, Nanautzin hurled himself into the flames, burning up with a great cackling sound, his blazing garments of reeds lighting up the sky. Nanautzin immolated himself to become the luminous sun. The other gods watched in amazement.
At once, the sun rose to light up the new fifth world.
Tecciztecatl did not want to be left behind. Inspired by Nanautzin and ashamed of his cowardice, he took courage and threw himself into the flames. This was declared as the act of the great moon.
An eagle and a jaguar followed them into the flames and the sacrifice was complete.
Initially, the sun and the moon appeared in the same radiant splendor. Yet, the gods agreed that the moon was too bright and could not shine like the sun.
It was the sun that had immolated bravely, Nanautzin became the radiant light of a new sun.
It was the brave Nanautzin, the Scabby One, who by death gave life to the sun.
Based on Nahua versions of a lost Toltec legend.
Nanautzin, a Toltec, is the protagonist of this interesting myth about the creation of the sun. Similar to Prometheus, Nanautzin offers his own life to bring light into the world, emphasizing the tradition in some Indigenous cultures, of sacrifice, especially self-sacrifice. In this interesting myth about the creation of the sun, Nanautzin is known as the fifth sun. He is also the god of the personification of humility on earth and in people.
