Metztli

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In Aztec mythology, Metztli (also Meztli, Metzi) was a god or goddess of the moon, the night, and farmers. He/she was probably the same deity as Yohaulticetl and Coyolxauhqui and the male moon god Tecciztecatl; like the latter, he/she feared the sun because he/she feared its fire. Also referred to as the lowly god of worms who failed to sacrifice himself to become the sun, and became the moon instead, his face darkened by a rabbit.

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[edit] Otomi mythology

For the Otomi people, Metztli was the Moon, the Queen of the Night, probably the main deity. They called her the Old Mother, who represented both Moon and Earth simultaneously. Her spouse, the Old Father, was the god of fire. The Otomi counted lunar months as a period from new moon to new moon. They were giving every month 30 days.

[edit] Mexican traces

The origin of the name of the Mexica probably derived from Metztli. A good argument for this version is that their tribal principal god Huitzilopochtli was also identified with the Moon. For more detailed explanation see Toponymy of Mexico.

[edit] Legend

Moon and Sun initially were shining likewise. It is not appropriate for gods, therefore one of them threw a rabbit in the face of another and it darkened. Henceforth it's possible to distinguish a rabbit figure on the moon superficies. During a night of full moon it becomes especially easy.

[edit] References

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