Tecciztecatl

A drawing of Tecciztecatl, one of the deities described in the Codex Borgia

In Aztec mythology, Tecciztecatl (Classical Nahuatl: Tēucciztēcatl /teːkʷ.sis.ˈteː.kat͡ɬ/, "Old Moon god"; also Tecuciztecal, Tecuciztecatl) was a lunar deity, representing the old "man-in-the-moon".

The Aztecs believed that they were living in a universe dominated by a generation of sun gods, the current one known as Tonatiuh, was the fifth. The first three previous suns perished by wind storms, jaguars and fiery rain. The fourth was wiped out by a flood when people turned into fish and spread through the ocean. After the fourth sun perished, the Aztecs believed that the gods assembled to decide which god was to become the next sun. They built a bonfire to sacrifice the next volunteer. Two gods – Nanahuatzin and Tecciztecatl – vied for the honor. Nanauatl, a poor god, was chosen because he could be spared. Proud Tecciztecatl insisted on the honor, but at the last moment hesitated. Nanahuatzin showed more courage and jumped into the fire. Tecciztecatl gained his courage and followed Nanauatl, thus forming two suns in the sky. The gods, being somewhat class conscious, were angry that rich and proud Tecciztecatl had to follow humble Nanauatl, threw a rabbit at Tecciztecatl leaving an imprint of the rabbit’s shape and dimming Tecciztecatl’s brightness to the point where he could only be seen at night.

In some depictions, Tecciztecatl carried a large, white seashell on his back, representing the moon itself; in others he had butterfly wings. He was a son of Tlaloc and Chalchiuhtlicue.

See also