Elementary Library

The Legend of The Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns

A long time ago, in ancient Mesoamerica, there were gods who created the world and the sun. But, the world was not always the way it is now. The gods created the world five times, and each time, the sun was different. The first sun was Tezcatlipoca , the god of night and mirrors. He made the world dark and full of wild animals. But, the people were afraid, and the sun soon vanished, leaving the world in darkness. The gods decided to try again. The second sun was Quetzalcoatl , the Feathered Serpent, who was wise, kind, and beautiful. Quetzalcoatl created the world full of people, animals, and plants. The sun was warm and bright, and life flourished. But, over time, the people became selfish, and they no longer honored the gods. The sun became angry and burned the world, causing the people to suffer. So, the gods had to create a new sun. The third sun was created by Tlaloc , the god of rain and storms. The sky poured with rain, and people and animals lived under water. But soon, the world became flooded, and the gods knew it was time to start again. The fourth sun was created by Chalchiuhtlicue , the goddess of lakes and rivers. She made the world lush with rivers and seas, but it was too beautiful, and the people grew lazy. They forgot to honor the gods again, and the sun was destroyed by fiery storms. Finally, the gods created the Fifth Sun , the sun that we live under today. But, to keep it shining, the gods needed to give it a special gift. Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, volunteered to make a great sacrifice. Quetzalcoatl climbed to the top of the great pyramid, holding the fire, and leaped into the flames. His body turned into fire, and his spirit became the sun, giving light and warmth to the world. The gods and the people praised him, and the sun shone brightly once more. And so, the Fifth Sun was born, and life began again. Since that time, Quetzalcoatl’s spirit continues to watch over the world, helping life grow and keeping the sun shining.