Tonatiuh
Tonatiuh, sun deity, was a central figure in Aztec mythology. As the ruler of the daytime sky and the east, he was known as “The Fifth Sun” and represented the fourth movement of the Aztec calendar. Depicted as a fierce and warlike god, Tonatiuh’s association with the eagle symbolized his daily journey across the sky, descending in the west and ascending in the east. It was believed that human sacrifices sustained his journey.
Residence: the Sky
Symbols: Sun and Eagle
Siblings: Quetzalcoatl
The Aztec calendar stone once featured Tonatiuh as the central deity, though this interpretation is now debated. In Toltec culture, Tonatiuh was often linked to Quetzalcoatl, the morning star aspect of Venus.
Tonatiuh’s era was considered the fifth and final age. In the “Primal Sun Myth,” Tonatiuh’s ascent required a significant sacrifice. Despite the voluntary self-sacrifice of Nanahuatl, a deformed deity, and Teucciztecatl, Tonatiuh refused to rise until Xolotl, the canine god, sacrificed himself. Nanahuatl’s bravery is credited with Tonatiuh’s ascension, while Teucciztecatl became the moon due to his hesitation.
Art
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 