The Aztec myth of the unlikeliest sun god - Kay Almere Read

Discover the myth of how the weak and pimply Aztec god Nanahuatl sacrificed himself to become Lord Sun and created a new world.

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Nanahuatl, weakest of the Aztec gods, sickly and covered in pimples, had been chosen to form a new world. There had already been four worlds, each set in motion by its own “Lord Sun,” and each had been destroyed. For a new world to be created, another god had to leap into the great bonfire and become the fifth sun. Will Nanahuatl complete the sacrifice? Kay A. Read recounts the myth of the sun.

Lesson by Kay Almere Read, directed by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat.

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[xenophanessonic]

"So how did your world end?"
"Mine was ended by rains of fire.
"Mine was ended by strong winds."
"Mine was ended by floods."
"Mine was ended by jaguars."
"Jaguars? Your world ended by *jaguars?*
"Yeah. Why?"
"Wouldnt it have been like earthquakes or something?"
"Nah man. The jaguars were just too much."

[FireLadyAzula]

Ah yes the four elements. Fire, Air, Water and Jaguar

[MC_lupin]

*See? Not even a deity can escape the inevitable curse of pimples* =)

[전호진-fg]

Wow..the moon god of Aztec myth is also related to rabbit?! In my country(Korea), there are legends that rabbits are living on moon. What a coincidence!

[margotnohe]

I love the Aztec mythos. The deities are so colorful and full of personality.

[cramerfloro]

Yes! finally aztec myths! I love your Myth videos so much!!! <3

[yar]

I remember hearing this as a child, but the only parts that stuck with me were the bravery of a man who threw himself to the fire and the cowardice and pride of the 2nd one. My dad told me this story before pointing to the moon and showing me the rabbit figure in it. I could never remember what the myth was truly about but it made an impression, taught me about being selfless and I had a rabbit in the moon to remind me not to be arrogant.

[DigitalDiscDreamer]

I love Mesoamerican myths and legends. Please continue the series with Quetzalcoatl because his story is very interesting as well.

[naveenrajeee]

Ted-ed animation and content are superb... You people are genius... Thanks for educating us...🙏
Congratulation for webby award.. I voted for you ted-ed...👍

[amaliasilva]

In Chile, my country, there’s a myth about two enormous snakes, Txeg Txeg, the earth snake, and Cai Cai, the sea snake, who wrestled with each other, slaying many human beings in the process, but Txeg Txeg saved her people by elevating the hills out of Cai Cai’s reach. The humans who had fell into the sea became sumpall, genies of the water. The remains of the earth became the Archipelago of Chiloé.

[oscarmendez]

I love the various variations on these myths because there are so many tribes/cultures in mesoamerica they have many versions. One of those is Huitzilopotchli, whom became the sun.


There is a family feud of this god. The sister plotted to kill her mother, and so she convinced everyone to kill the mother whom was pregnant and going to give birth to the sun god. He was given birth with full armor and with a shield and a sword that was a feather snake (in some versions is also in fire). After so much fighting he decided to kill his sister. He severed his sister's head and threw at the sky and she became the moon. So the sun god fights the goddess of the moon from ending the world seeking her revenge.

But the fight drains the sun god of his stamina and needs blood. that is why the Aztecs, made many heart sacrifices as "blood transfusion" for the sun god from preventing the apocalypse from happening. By the way somehow the moon goddess made 1000 of her heads and this the sun god has to fight 1000 severed heads of his sister. And so he fights to prevent the end of the world. When she is wining is night, when he is wining is daylight.

[irisjimenez]

I always saw a bunny on the moon when i was in Mexico the stories of how the bunny ended up there are always different but very entertaining

[wood]

Truly Amazing Animators In All Videos!All Your Videos Are Amazing And Educational!
EDIT:Thanks Ted Ed!

[isham]

"Stabbed with an obsidian knife"



*Children of the forest has entered the chat*

[ricardoberbor]

The background music is beautiful, who’s the composer?

[theilluminativirus]

So, the moon was creates when the prideful god jumped in the fire, and then Some random guy yeeted a rabbit in his face?




I like this mith

[philRminiatures]

Unusual and lovely animations, very atmospheric!

[zuko]

Game of Thrones: Night King vs Sun God


The final final season.

[VietVuHunzter]

So, gods has to killed themselves to make world for us.
Now I finally understand why Aztec does their sacrifices. It was an honor to them.

[oklol]

"Sickly and covered in pimples" I must be a God.