Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-05-27
The Aztec Account or the Origin Of the
Sun.

The following is from Volume Ill. of
Bancroft's Native Races" being the
Aztec's idea of the origin Of the sun:
"Now there had been no sun in exist
ence for many years; so the gods, being
assembled in place called Teotihuacan,
six leagues from Mexico, and gathered
at the time round great fire, told their
deyotees that he of them who should first
cast himself into that fire should have
the honor of being transformed into the
sun So one of them called Nanahuat-
zin--either, as most say, out of pure
bravery, or, as Sahagun relates, because
his life had become a burden TO him
through disease-fung himself into the
fire. Then the gods began to peer
through the gloom in all directions for
the expected light and to make bets as
to what part Of heaven he should first
appear in. And some said here and
some said there; but when the sun rose
they were all proved wrong, for not one
of them had fixed upon the east. And
in that same hour, though they knew it
not, the decree went forth that they
should all die by sacrifice
"The sun had risen, indeed, and with
q glory Of the cruel fire about him that
not even the eyes of the gods could en-
dure; but he moved not. There he lay
on the horizon ana when the deities sent
Tlotli, their messenger, to him, with
orders that he should go upon his way, his
omnous answer was that he would never
leave that place till he had destroyed
and put an end 10 them all. Then a
great fear fell upon some, while others
were moved only TO anger; and among
the latter was one Citli, who immediate
ly strung his bow and advanced against
the glittering enemy BY quickly lower
ing his head the sun avoided the first
arrow shot at him; but the second and
third had attained his body In quick sue
cession, when. filled with fury, he seized
the last and launched it back upon his
ssailant. And the brave Citli laid shaft
to string nevermore, for the arrow of the
sun pierced his forehead
"Then all was dismay in the assembly
of the gods and despair filed their
hearts, for they saw that they could not
prevail against the shining one; and they
agreed to die and cut themselves open
through the breast Xolotl was appoint
ed minister and he killed his companions
one by one, and last of all he slew him.
self also. So they died like gods; and
each left to the sad and wondering men
who were his servants his garments for
memorial. And these servants made up
each party, bundle of the raiment that
had been left to them, binding it about
stick into which they had bedded small
grees stone TO serve as heart. These
bundles were called tldqutmSlloli, and
each bore the name of that god whose
meI1orial il was; and these things were
more reverenced than the ordinary gods
of stone and wood of the country. Fray
Andres lie Oimos found one of these
relics in Tlalmanalco, wrapped up in
many cloths and half rotten with being
kept hid so long.
Immediately on the death of the gods
the sun began his motion in the heavens;
and man called Tecuzistecatl, or Tez.
ecociztecail, who when Nanahuatzin
jieaped into the fire had retired into a
cave, now emerged from his concealment
as the moon. Others say that, instead of
going into cave, this Tecuzistecatl
had leaped into the fire after Nanahuat-
Yin, but that, the heat of the fire being
somewhat abated, he had come out less
brilliant than the sun. Still another
another variation is that the sun and
moon came out equally bright; but, this
not seeming good to the gods, one of
them took rabbit by the heels and
slung it into the face of the moon, dim
ming its iuster with blotch whose mark
may be seen TO this day."