Tonatiuh, “The Fifth Sun”

Tonatiuh, “The Fifth Sun”

Tonatiuh is the Aztec god of the sun and warfare.

• Pantheon: Aztec Pantheon
• Deity Title: Tonatiuh, “The Fifth Sun”
• Deity Symbol: A sun with a face and tongue of fire, surrounded by eagle feathers.
• Home Plane: The Fifth Sun, a world of perpetual light and heat.
• Deity Level: Greater deity
• Alignment: Lawful neutral
• Aliases: The Sun God, The Fifth Sun, The Leader of Heaven, The Patron of Warriors
• Superior: None
• Traditional Allies: Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, Xipe Totec, Quetzalcoatl
• Traditional Foes: Tezcatlipoca, Mictlantecuhtli
• Divine Artifact: The Sun Stone, a giant stone disk with a calendar and astronomical markings, believed to be a portal to other worlds.
• Servants: Eagle warriors, Jaguar warriors, priests, shamans
• Servitor Creatures: Eagles, jaguars, snakes, hummingbirds
• Sacred Animal: The eagle
• Manifestations: A fiery sun disc, a warrior with an eagle headdress, a jaguar or eagle, a ball of fire or a meteor.
• Signs of Favor: Bright sunshine, successful battles, healthy crops, good harvests.
• Worshipers: Warriors, nobles, priests, farmers, astronomers, and common people.
• Cleric Alignments: Lawful good, lawful neutral, neutral good
• Specialty Priests: Jaguar warriors, eagle warriors, sun priests, astronomers
• Holy Days: The Feast of the Sun, celebrated every 52 years, as well as the solstices, equinoxes, and other celestial events.
• Portfolio: The sun, light, heat, war, bravery, warriors, sacrifice, the calendar, astronomy.
• Domains: Light, War, Sun, Protection
• Favored Weapon: Atlatl (Spear-thrower)
• Favored Class: Fighter
• Favored Race: Human
• Duties of the Priesthood: To maintain the calendar and predict celestial events, to conduct human sacrifices to nourish Tonatiuh, to lead warriors in battle, to bless crops and ensure a good harvest, to heal the sick and injured.
• Major Cult/Temple Sites: The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, the Temple of the Sun in Teotihuacan, the Templo Mayor in Tlatelolco.
• Benefits: Clerics and specialty priests of Tonatiuh gain the ability to cast spells related to light, heat, and war. They also gain the ability to call upon the power of the sun to grant strength and courage to themselves and their allies. They have access to powerful divine magic that can heal the sick and injured, protect their allies, and strike down their enemies. They are also respected members of society, and may receive offerings of food, drink, and other goods from their worshipers.

Tonatiuh is the Aztec god of the sun, often depicted as a powerful and imposing figure. His body is muscular and well-defined, with bronze skin that glows with a warm radiance. His face is angular, with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline, and his eyes are deep and piercing, reflecting the heat and intensity of the sun.

Tonatiuh wears a headdress made of gold and feathers, with rays of light radiating outward, symbolizing his power and majesty. He is often depicted holding a shield and a spear, representing the strength and courage of the sun.

As the god of the sun, Tonatiuh holds a vital role in Aztec mythology. He was believed to be the source of all life and energy on earth, and his movements across the sky were thought to govern the seasons and the cycles of life and death. Tonatiuh was also associated with sacrifice, and it was believed that the blood of sacrificial victims could sustain his power and ensure the continuation of life on earth.

Tonatiuh’s primary goal was to ensure the continuity of life on earth through his life-giving power. He was also believed to be a powerful protector of warriors and a source of strength and courage for those who faced difficult challenges. In addition, Tonatiuh was associated with justice and was often called upon to provide guidance and wisdom to rulers and leaders.

Despite his importance in Aztec mythology, Tonatiuh was also associated with destruction and death, as the sun’s intense heat could scorch the earth and bring drought and famine. As such, he was both revered and feared, with his power and majesty commanding respect from all who worshipped him.

Currently in the World

Tonatiuh, the Aztec god of the sun, has always been a powerful and central figure in Mesoamerican religion. He was created at the beginning of time, born as a full-grown adult from the sacrificial flames of his father, the primordial god Ometecuhtli. Tonatiuh’s radiance was so bright that it illuminated the entire world, and his warmth sustained all life on Earth.

Throughout the ages, Tonatiuh has been a constant presence in the lives of the Aztec people. He has watched over them as they built their great cities and pyramids, battled their enemies, and performed their religious ceremonies. He has been both a source of comfort and a force to be feared, for his light and heat can be both nurturing and destructive.

In the 1450s, Tonatiuh continues to hold a position of great importance among the Aztecs. He is worshipped daily in temples and homes throughout the empire, and his priests perform complex ceremonies to honor and appease him. Tonatiuh’s desires and motivations are complex, for he is a god of many facets. He desires to be worshipped and venerated by his people, for their faith and devotion sustains his power. He also seeks to maintain balance in the world, for the sun’s heat and light are necessary for life, but can also bring drought and famine if not controlled.

At this time, Tonatiuh is keenly aware of the growing power of the Spanish conquistadors, who have arrived on the shores of the Aztec empire. He sees them as a threat to the delicate balance of power that he has maintained for centuries, and he fears what they might do to his people and his land. Tonatiuh is torn between his desire to protect his worshippers and his need to maintain his own power and influence.

As the Spanish continue their march inland, Tonatiuh gathers his priests and followers to him. He speaks to them of the dangers that the Spanish pose, and urges them to remain steadfast in their faith and devotion. He also makes plans to defend his temples and his people, for he knows that the Spanish will stop at nothing to subjugate them.

Tonatiuh’s greatest strength is his power over the sun, which he wields with unerring accuracy. He can control the sun’s path across the sky, and can summon its heat and light to scorch his enemies. However, his power is not absolute, for the sun is a fickle and unpredictable force. Tonatiuh must constantly work to maintain its balance, lest it grow too hot and destroy all life on Earth.

Tonatiuh’s relationship with the other gods is complex, for he is both a rival and a partner to them. He competes with Tlaloc, the god of rain, for control over the weather, and with Tezcatlipoca, the god of war, for influence over the Aztec people. However, he also works closely with other gods like Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, to maintain balance in the world.

One of Tonatiuh’s most powerful artifacts is his atlatl, a spear-thrower that he uses to control the sun’s path. With this weapon, he can unleash bolts of searing heat that can incinerate entire armies. However, he is reluctant to use it too often, for the sun’s power is not infinite.

In the end, Tonatiuh’s fate is tied to that of his people. If the Aztecs can resist the Spanish and maintain their independence, Tonatiuh will continue to reign over the sun and all that it touches. But if they are conquered and subjugated, Tonatiuh’s power will wane, and his influence