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The Aztec myth of the unlikeliest sun god - Kay Almere Read

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TEDEd Animation

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Nanahuatl, weakest of the Aztec gods, sickly and covered in pimples, had been chosen to form a new world. There had already been four worlds, each set in motion by its own “Lord Sun,” and each had been destroyed. For a new world to be created, another god had to leap into the great bonfire and become the fifth sun. Will Nanahuatl complete the sacrifice? Kay A. Read recounts the myth of the sun.

When the gods interact with each other, can you detect a code of behavior? Can you figure out from particular gods’ actions what the rules are for how one should act in this community of deities? Can you find examples of their attitudes toward arrogance, anger, rash behavior or selfishness; and what about ill health, humility, cooperation, reciprocity or caring for others? How many communally shared rules can you uncover by looking closely at what the gods do?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Kay Almere Read
  • Director Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Narrator Christina Greer
  • Translation Collaborator Jane Rosenthal
  • Animator Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
  • Composer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac

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