The Beginning of the World

Aztec Mythology

The Aztecs were ensconced in the blood and gore that represented their love of war and domination of surrounding societies. They believed that Coatlique, the Lady of the Snake Skirt, was impregnated by a knife made from obsidian, and gave birth to the moon, Coyolxanuhqui, and the stars. When she became pregnant after a ball of feathers from her breast disappeared, the moon and stars became enraged. While plotting her death, she gave birth to Huitzilopochtli, the god of fire. He murdered his brothers and sisters, and the universe began with fratricide and chaos as what gods were left were scattered around the universe.

------

Later myths of the Aztecs became more peaceful as they settled into the power of their conquering. In the beginning, there was a void. Then Ometeotl was formed from the empty darkness. Ometeotl was both male and female, and so could create life on earth. Ometeotl was a representation of all opposites and opposing forces that come together in this universe, bound by harmony. Ometeotl gave rise to four children, White, Red, Blue, and Black, who were supposedly facets of the same god Tezcatlipoca, God of the Smoking Mirror. They created the world, everything in it and now serve as guides for our spirits through punishment and reward. What they created included Tlaloc, the god of water and Cipatli, the universe wherein we are contained. The White Tezcatlipoca was Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, god of wisdom and light. Xipetotec, the Red Tezcatlipoca, was the god of renewal and rebirth. Huitzilopochtli, the Blue Tezcatlipoca, is the Perpetually Eaten God, otherwise known as the Sun. The Sun constantly descends and dies underneath the horizon while the stars and moon survive. Finally, the Black Tezcatlipoca is Mictlantecuhtli, god of death and black night. These four facets of Tezcatlipoca carefully guard the order of life.

The Dawn and Dusk of Man is a Thinkquest Mythology Project by Sheila, Min, Ana and Tencia of Montgomery Blair High School.