In Aztec belief, the world was not created just once, but had passed through four previous eras, or Suns, each ending in catastrophe due to imbalance among the gods. The First Sun, Nahui-Ocelotl, ruled by Tezcatlipoca, featured giants who were ultimately devoured by jaguars. The Second Sun, Nahui-Ehécatl, under Quetzalcóatl, ended when great winds transformed humans into monkeys. The Third Sun, Nahui-Quiahuitl, governed by Tlaloc, was destroyed by a rain of fire. The Fourth Sun, Nahui-Atl, under Chalchiuhtlicue, perished in a massive flood, turning humanity into fish. Each era illustrated the fragile balance between divine powers and the world.
From the ashes of the Fourth Sun, the gods convened at Teotihuacán to create the Fifth Sun, the era of movement. Two gods made the ultimate sacrifice to set the cosmos in motion. Nanahuatzin, humble and steadfast, threw himself into the sacred fire to become the Sun, while Tecuciztécatl, proud and hesitant, followed and became the Moon. This era, called Nahui-Ollin, is represented at the center of the Aztec Sun Stone by the face of Tonatiuh, the Sun god, with his obsidian tongue extended, symbolizing the eternal need for sacrifice to keep the universe turning.
The Sun Stone itself is more than a calendar; it is a cosmic map. The concentric rings around the center depict the 20-day cycle of the Aztec month, emphasizing the unending flow of time. Ollin means movement, and the Aztecs believed that if humans failed to honor the natural and divine laws, the Fifth Sun would stop moving, unleashing devastating earthquakes. Two fire serpents, Xiuhcoatl, frame the stone’s edge, representing the balance of day and night and the gods’ control over eternal time.
The legend teaches profound moral and philosophical lessons. Balance is essential; the universe survives only when opposing forces like light and dark, water and fire, coexist. Human responsibility is clear; people are not masters of the Earth but its stewards, ensuring the cosmos continues through rituals and respect for sacred order. Time is sacred, and each moment carries divine significance, guiding humans to live in harmony with the stars and the rhythms of life. This story remains a timeless reminder of the connection between humanity, nature, and the heavens, and the importance of honoring both.