PyroMyth Games Set Your Mind on Fire Our Products Cannon Rocks For Sale Dead Man's Island PMG Gear Other Offerings Free Games Games in the works Fire Myths Conventions News Links Information Who we are How to Contact us Your Privacy

THE RABBIT IN THE MOON This Aztec Sun and Moon myth is part of a much longer myth about the creation of the 5 suns. The earth was still dark and now the people really needed a sun. The gods gathered to build fires and to decide on the next sun. A proud god, Tecuciztecatl, offered himself, but the other gods preferred Nanahuatzin, who was humble and diseased. Preparations were made for the two to fast, pray and make themselves ready. The gifts of Tecuciztecatl were rich and precious, while the offerings of Nanahuatzin were poor and humble like himself. The spirits built a huge fire for the one who would be chosen. The gods called on the proud Tecuciztecatl to leap into the flames, but he grew afraid and could not. Then they turned to Nanahuatzin and he immediately jumped into the fire. Seeing that, Tecuciztecatl was ashamed and leaped into the fire followed by the eagle and the jaguar. Because of their bravery, the eagle with the tips of his wings scorched black and the jaguar with his smudged coat became the great military orders of Aztec warriors. The gods watched to see who would arise as the sun but saw two suns rising in the east. They were afraid the world would be too bright, so they threw a rabbit in the face of Tecuciztecatl puting out his fire, and the face became the moon. The Aztecs saw a rabbit in the moon not a man. Every culture sees something different. What do you see?