In mythologies around the world, the creation of the world is depicted in diverse ways, from cosmic struggles between gods to mysterious processes of creation. In Aztec mythology, Ometecuhtli gives birth to four gods who, in turn, create and destroy world ages, while in Chinese mythology, the emergence of order from chaos represents the tragic fate of Hun Dun. In Greece, Gaia and Eros emerge from formless Chaos, leading to the birth of the gods. In each of these traditions, the relationships between deities and their interactions with life on earth reflect the deep cultural and spiritual beliefs of the given society.
Central America - Aztecs
Initially, Ometecuhtli gave birth to four creator gods: Tezcatlipoca, the supreme deity, Xipe Totec, Huitzilopochtli, and Quetzalcoatl. They were joined by the rain god Tlaloc and his wife, the goddess Chalchiuhtlicue. All these deities participated in a cosmic struggle that successively created and destroyed five "Suns," or world ages. Tezcatlipoca ruled the first Sun, which lasted for 676 years. Quetzalcoatl overthrew Tezcatlipoca, and the world was devoured by jaguars. A second Sun was created, ruled by Quetzalcoatl, who was in turn thrown out by Tezcatlipoca and swept away in a mighty hurricane. The third Sun was ruled by Tlaloc, which ended when Quetzalcoatl caused a rain of fire to devour the earth. The Fourth Sun was led by Chalchiuhtlicue. This era ended when the world was destroyed by the Flood. The current era began when the god Nanahuatzin jumped into a fire in the sacred city of Teotihuacan and transformed into the rising sun. This sun, however, remained stationary until other deities offered sacrifices of their own blood, which was the basis of the Aztec belief that human sacrifices prolonged the world's existence. However, such actions can only delay the inevitable end of this sun, when earthquakes will destroy the world.
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