Nanahuatzin
Nanahuatzin is the solar god from the Nahua legend. Huitzilopochtli replaced Nanahuatzin.
↻ synthesized from 7 sources
When
- First attested
- 1500 BCE
- Attested period
- 0 – 2020
- Historical notes
- Deity who sacrificed themselves to become the sun in Aztec mythology.
Relationships
- syncretized with
- Nanahuatl
- co occurs with
- Tlaltecuhtli, Teoyaomicqui, Guaraci, Meri, Xolotl, Ehecatl, Chalchiuhtlicue, Tēcciztēcatl, Nanahuatl, Tlantepozilamatl, Mictecacihuatl, Ometecuhtli, Omecihuatl, Tlalcihuatl, Xiuhtecuhtli, Xantico, Meztli, Huitzilopochtli, Tezcatlipōca, Tlaloc, Coatlicue, Coyolxauhqui, Jurupari, Mictlantecuhtli
- allied with
- Tezzictecatl, Quetzalcoatl
- aspect of
- Xolotl
- manifests as
- Tonatiuh
- child of
- Tonantzin, Xochiquetzal, Cozcamiauh, Ītzpāpālōtl, Piltzintecuhtli
- sibling of
- Xōchicihuātl
- manifested by
- Tonatiuh
Mentioned by
Sources
Source passages
“Through this, Huitzilopochtli replaced Nanahuatzin, the solar god from the Nahua legend.”
#11697 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Seler characterizes Nanahuatzin ("Little Pustule Covered One"), who is deformed by syphilis, as an aspect of Xolotl in his capacity as god of monsters, deforming diseases, and deformities.”
#13915 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“The best-known version states that Tezzictecatl and Nanahuatzin immolated themselves, becoming the moon and the sun.”
#15026 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001
“Nanahuatzin, god of the Sun”
#15421 · extracted by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5
“Two gods – Nanahuatzin and Tecciztecatl – vied for the honor. Nanahuatzin, a poor god, was chosen because he could be spared. Proud Tecciztecatl insisted on the honor, but at the last moment hesitated. Nanahuatzin showed more courage and jumped into the fire.”
#19469 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001