Metztli

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.

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.

Mexican traces

The origin of the name of the Mexica probably derived from Metztli. For more detailed explanation see Toponymy of Mexico.

Legend

The Moon and Sun were at one time equally bright. It not being appropriate for gods to be equals, one of them threw a rabbit in the face of the other, and the one struck darkened to become today's moon. Henceforth it's possible to distinguish a figure of a rabbit on the moon's surface. During a full moon, the "Rabbit in the Moon" becomes readily visible.

See also

• Black Sun (mythology)
• Mextli
• Tecciztecatl

References

• Galindo Trejo, Jesús (1994). Arqueoastronomía en la américa antigua. México: Equipo Sirius, S.A.. ISBN 8486639662. 
• Esperanza Carrasco Licea & Alberto Carramiñana Alonso, "Metztli, La Luna", Diario Síntesis, 28 de Mayo de 1996