TYPE: Moon god
ORIGIN: Aztec (Classical Mesoamerican) [Mexico]
INFORMATION: In cosmogony; when on the fifth day of creation the gods sat in judgment to elect the new sun god, Nanahuatl and Tecciztecatl cremated themselves in the sacred fire. The heart of Nanahuatl ascended to become the new sun and that of Tecciztecatl became the moon. Tradition suggests that Nanahuatl is diseased and impoverished but of great courage, while Tecciztecatl is wealthy and a coward. Alternatively, the pair are sons of Quetzalcoatl and of Tlaloc and were hurled into the fire by their fathers. Also one of the group classed as the Tezcatlipoca complex.
NOTE: eventually all the gods sacrificed themselves for mankind.