The Heavens
The Heavens was a place for the gods. It was built by the creator gods, Feathered Serpent and Dark Heart of Sky, to sustain the world. The Heavens were created on top of the world tree, with thirteen levels to reflect on the sacred calendar. The first level was for the moon so that the brothers could illuminate the night, then followed by the second level. The second level held thousands of stars that would bring joy and happiness to wandering souls. The third level was for the sun with Feathered Serpent saving a level for himself above his proudest work. He then created shooting stars and comets on the fifth level to separate him from Dark Heart Sky in the sixth level. The seventh level was the blue daytime sky. Above that, Dark Heart of Sky sets storms, wind, and lighting. The other levels were saved for the gods and Tamoanchan was set at the twelfth level at the celestial summit. Finally, The 13th level was where Ometeotl, the godfather and godmother rested.
–Bella, Ruben & Crystal M.
The Underworld & Three Paradises
After the creation of the heavens, Dark Heart of Sky made the 9 layers of the Underworld. The first layer was a wide river, and you could only make it across on the back of a loyal dog. In the second layer, you had to pass through two crushing mountains, which teach you not be slow in life or death. Then, in the third layer, obsidian blades would slice your flesh before you would be whipped with winds in the fourth. In the fifth layer, you would be shot by thousands of arrows that would strip away your remaining flesh. Next, jaguars we eat what is left of your heart before you arrive at the deepest lake in the cosmos, where all your memories will be washed away. Finally, you will arrive at the palace of the Queen and King of the dead. Only then will you have the possibility of rebirth.
Feathered Serpent told Dark Heart of Sky that death must inspire hope, as well. So, he created a paradise in the east for those that die in battle or in human sacrifice, a paradise in the west for mothers who die in childbirth, and a paradise in the south for those who die of drowning, who are struck by lightning or suffer from disease.
–Izzy, Eric, Raiden & Marco
First Age
The First Age started when all the people were cold, so the gods had a discussion about who should become the sun to keep humanity warm. Dark Heart of Sky decided to be the sun because he was jealous; he just wanted attention. When the humans gave Feathered Serpent and Dark Heart of Sky sacrifices, Dark Heart of Sky thought the sacrifices they gave him were small compared to Feathered Serpent’s. Out of jealousy, Dark Heart of Sky taught everyone how to turn into jaguars. He twisted their minds to start fighting each other. When Feathered Serpent saw that all his creations were destroyed, he was furious. He picked up the world tree and beat Dark Heart of Sky with it, launching him into the cosmic sea so he would not mess with his creations again.
– Aziel, Victoria, Jayden & Nikki
Second Age
The Second Age started with Feathered Serpent becoming the sun. The humans praised Feathered Serpent because he was kind and loving. Then out of nowhere, a dark swirl emerged, getting bigger by the second. It was Dark Heart of Sky, who had turned himself into a typhoon out of rage and jealousy, because he felt like his brother was more appreciated by the people of the Second Age. The winds shredded forests and turned boulders into pebbles. Humans were blown off the surface of the earth and flung into the abyss. In a rush, Feathered Serpent turned the remaining humans into monkeys and gave them tails to hold onto the trees. At the end, the sun died and Feathered Serpent was thrown into the endless void.
–Braulio, Ezekiel, Max & Lauren
Third Age
In the Third Age, Tlaloc, the God of Rain, became the sun. Dark Heart of Sky thought Tlaloc's wife was the most beautiful goddess he had ever seen, so he kidnapped her. Tlaloc was furious to find out what Dark Heart of Sky had done. Tlaloc ordered his servants to erupt a volcano so that the Third Age would flood in lava. To save the early humans from the lava, Feathered Serpent gave his feathers to them and made them into birds to fly over the flaming lava. This is how birds were brought into the world and how the Third Age came to an end.
–Phoenix, Isaii, Gael & Juanjo
Fourth Age
Fourth Age
The Fourth Age started when the second wife of Tlaloc, Chalchiuhtlicue, became the sun. One day, Chalchiuhtlicue remembered the wonderful times she had with her son and her husband, and made her cry. Her never-ending tears cracked the heavens and finally drowned the world. Feathered Serpent swooped in and saw all the water flooding up the heavens and the world. To help the humans survive, Feathered Serpent made them into sea creatures. This is how fish, sharks, whales, and other sea animals were created as the Fourth Age ended in destruction.
–Frida, Zoe & Adrean
Fifth Age
In the Fifth Age, the gods needed a new sun. Tlaloc, the God of Rain, already had a plan for his own son, Tecciztecatl, to step up and become the sun. Feathered Serpent wanted his son, Nanahunatzin, to become the sun. The two young gods had four days of preparation leading up to the ceremony. When the special day finally came, the gods lit a sacred fire. Tecciztecatl would have to be engulfed in the flames but did not have the courage to do so. Nanahuatzin decided to jump inside the sacred fire and become the sun. In shame, Tecciztecatl lept after Nanahuatzin into the dwindling flames. The two gods, now blazing suns, lifted into the sky, causing destruction across the earth. In displeasure, Feathered Serpent took a rabbit and hurled it at Tecciztecatl, which diminished his brightness and turned him into the moon. That's why there are rabbit-like craters on the moon today. The Queen and King of Death declared that the Fifth Age would come to an end with a huge earthquake on the day 4-movement sometime in the unknowable future. The gods made a clay jar and once it fills to the top with human tears, everything will come to an end.
–Akira, Keira, Eva & Ryder
The Heavens
You are looking at a theory of how the Aztecs believed the heavens were constructed. You can see how they thought there were 13 layers of heaven, from the Moon, to the storms, and to Teotihuacan, the city of the Aztec gods. The first level shows the moon giving light to the night, and on the second level are the stars helping it shine in the night sky. The third level shows the sun, unlike the moon, giving light to the day. The fourth level is the level for Feathered Serpent, the caring and loyal god, who is the total opposite of his brother, Dark Heart of Sky. The fifth level is for shooting stars that give light to illuminate the entire Solar System. The sixth level is the level of the blue sky, and the seventh level is the layer for Dark Heart of Sky, the selfish and problematic god. Next, the eighth level is the level of storms, winds and darkness. After that is the ninth heaven which represents the winds of day, followed by the yellow heaven of the five suns. The red heaven is next, which is the heaven of fire and home for the volcanoes. Over the red heaven is Tamoachan, a paradise that earthly words could never do justice. The last level is Teotihuacan, the city of the gods.
--Anthony R, Anthony S, Monse & Alisa
The Underworld & Three Paradises
Feathered Serpent and Dark Heart of Sky thought of the Underworld and the Paradises as punishments and rewards for the actions of what humans did on Earth. The underworld was made for those who lived a standard life. It had 9 layers that were obstacles to reach the heart of the underworld. It starts with a river, where you have to cross with a dog, which is your companion; two mountains with crushing boulders; a land of sharp obsidian blades; strong biting winds that rip your skin; arrows and darts that pierce your bones; and jaguars that eat your heart. Then your soul goes into a vast dark lake that transitions you into the last layer, which is where you get a chance to live again. The paradises were earned by the people who keep the wheels of time turning. There were three in each direction. In the East, the land is full of misty flowers and birds of bright colors, reserved for the warriors that died in battle and for those who offered themselves as human sacrifice. In the West, this paradise was for the women who died during childbirth, the most fearsome battle in the universe. These mothers were transformed into mighty warriors and were allowed to visit their children every 52 years. The last paradise in the South was ruled by the rain god, Tlaloc. This was reserved for the people who drowned, were struck by lighting ,and for those who suffered with disabilities or deformities.
-- Iliana, Christian, Andryk & Dante
First Age
The First Age was the first attempt to create humanity. In the beginning, Feathered Serpent created the first humans and they lived in the mountains. They were giants with white hair and rugged skin but they were too cold. The Gods decided they needed a sun and they created one. Feathered Serpent was praised more, so Dark Heart of Sky leapt in. He thought that he would be honored and loved more but instead his brother was. Dark Heart of Sky, disgusted with the humans, sent his nahualli and brainwashed all those born in the year jaguar to attack each other. Feathered Serpent was upset to see his creations destroyed, so he ripped out the world tree and smashed the sun.
-- Diego, Crystal, Aaron & Aldo
Second Age
When the First Age came to ruins, Feathered Serpent and the Divine Mother carved humans out of wood. This time, Feathered Serpent became the sun and smiled down on his creations. Dark Heart of Sky, infuriated by the humans’ praise to his brother, became a hurricane and blew everything away, including Feathered Serpent. Feathered Serpent desperately turned the humans into monkeys, so they could hang onto branches and would not blow away in the wind.
-- Jose, David, Elijah & Abraham.
Third Age
In the Third Age, Dark Heart of Sky forced Tlaloc, the God of Rain, to leave his wife and become the sun. Then, Dark Heart of Sky looked upon Tlaloc's wife and saw that she was the most beautiful being in the universe. He stole Tlaloc’s wife and forced her to marry him. Tlaloc, enraged, brought a drought to the world. Dark Heart of Sky let this pass for some time, but he finally got tired of Tlaloc’s tantrum and confronted him. They fought above the sun. Tlaloc’s servants drew magma from the earth and caused lava to destroy it. Feathered Serpent saved a few people by giving them wings and gifting them with flight so they could fly over the lava. With that, the Third Age ended in violence and destruction.
-- Sebastian, Dalilah, Caesar & Ray
Fourth Age
In the Fourth Age, the Aztec gods needed a new sun. They wanted to avoid the disputes of the past, so they chose Chalchiuhtlicue, the second wife of Tlaloc and mother of Tecciztecatl, as the new sun. Twelve calendar cycles passed calmly, and that is when the heavens began to fill with her tears. The reason she was crying remains a mystery, but many think she missed her child, her husband, and her home. In order to survive the flood , Dark Heart of Sky commanded the last two humans to make a boat out of a tree and to not eat anything. Disobeying Dark Heart of Sky’s orders, they ate fish from the water. Dark Heart of Sky, furious, turned them both into dogs.
-- Franceshca, Alanna, London & Nicolas
Fifth Age
In the Fifth Age, Nanahuatzin, Feathered Serpent’s son, and Tecciztecatl, son of Taloc, argued about who was going to be the next sun. Tecciztecatl was going to sacrifice himself in a pit of fire, but he felt intense heat, had second thoughts, and failed to jump in. The gods pushed Tecciztecatl aside and asked if Nanahuatzin would jump in the fire. Nanahuatzin closed his eyes and bravely jumped in. Once the fire began to weaken, Tecciztecatl jumped in, too. All of a sudden, two suns rose in the sky. Feathered Serpent got angry that cowardly Tecciztecatl was equally bright as Nanahuatzin, so he threw a rabbit at him to dim his light. After that, Tecciztecatl became the moon; Nanahuatzin remained as the sun. In addition, the gods molded a jar of clay that collected tears of human sins, and when the jar is full, the world will end.
-- Emi, Jasmine, Anya & Emmanuel