Nanāhuātzin
aztec deity
In Aztec mythology, the god Nanāhuātzin or Nanāhuātl (or Nanauatzin, the suffix -tzin implies respect or familiarity; Classical Nahuatl: Nanāhuātzin [nanaːˈwaːtsin]), the most humble of the gods, sacrificed himself in fire so that he would continue to shine on Earth as the Sun, thus becoming the solar deity. Nanāhuātzin means "full of sores." According to a translation of the Histoyre du Mechique, Nanāhuātzin is the son of Ītzpāpālōtl and Cozcamiauh or Tonantzin, but was adopted by Piltzintecuhtli and Xōchiquetzal. In the Codex Borgia, Nanāhuātzin is represented as a man emerging from a fire. This was originally interpreted as an illustration of cannibalism. He is probably an aspect of Xolotl.
Aztec tradition
The Aztecs had various myths about the creation, and Nanāhuātzin participates in several. In the legend of Quetzalcōātl, Nanāhuātzin helps Quetzalcōātl to obtain the first grains, which will be the food of humankind. In Aztec mythology, the universe is not considered permanent or everlasting, but rather subject to death, like any living creature. However, even as it dies, the universe is reborn into a new age, or "Sun." Nanāhuātzin is best known from the legend of the Five Suns as related by Bernardino de Sahagún.
In this legend, which forms the basis for most Nahua myths, there were four creations.
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