In
Aztec mythology
Aztec mythology is the body or collection of myths of the Aztec civilization of Central Mexico. The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking groups living in central Mexico and much of their mythology is similar to that of other Mesoamerican cultures. Accordi ...
, Mētztli (; also rendered Meztli, Metzi, literally "Moon") was a
god or goddess of the moon, the night, and farmers. They were likely the same deity as
Yohaulticetl
In Aztec mythology, Yohualticetl, the "Lady of the Night", was a lunar deity, moon goddess and guardian of infants. She may have been the same as Metztli and Coyolxauhqui and the male moon god Tecciztecatl.
See also
*Five Suns, Five Suns (my ...
or
Coyolxauhqui and the male moon god
Tecciztecatl; like the latter, who feared the Sun because of its fire.
Legend
The Moon and Sun were at one time equally bright. Fearing the earth would burn under the light of two luminaries, one of the gods threw a rabbit in the face of the other, and the one struck darkened to become today's Moon. Henceforth it is possible to distinguish a figure of a rabbit on the Moon's surface. During a full moon, the "
Rabbit in the Moon
Rabbit in the Moon is an American electronic music group that formed in 1991. Their style draws from psychedelic trance, house music and breakbeat, along with other diverse influences.
History
Formed in 1992 in Tampa, Florida, the group consi ...
" becomes readily visible.
Otomi mythology
For the
Otomi people
The Otomi (; es, Otomí ) are an indigenous people of Mexico inhabiting the central Mexican Plateau (Altiplano) region.
The Otomi are an indigenous people of Mexico who inhabit a discontinuous territory in central Mexico. They are linguisticall ...
, Zäna was the Moon, the Queen of the Night, probably the main deity. They called her the Young 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 gave every month 30 days.
See also
*
Tecciztecatl
*
List of lunar deities
A lunar deity is a deity who represents the Moon, or an aspect of it. Lunar deities and Moon worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms. The following is a list of lunar deities:
African
American Aztec mythology
* ...
References
*
Esperanza Carrasco Licea & Alberto Carramiñana Alonso, "Metztli, La Luna", Diario Síntesis, 28 de Mayo de 1996
Aztec deities
Lunar deities
Agricultural deities
Night deities
{{mesoamerica-myth-stub