the endAn Aztec Myth
The Aztecs were powerful warriors who rules an empire in central Mexico from the 14th to the early 16th centuries. The most important Aztec God, Tezcatlipoca, was called the God of the Smoking Mirror. He is associated with the Great Bear constellation. It is believed he came to earth on a spider web an ruled the Aztec world. His rivalry with Quetzalcoatl, known as the feathered serpent, as told in Aztec myths. In this myth, Quetzalcoatl appears as the Wind God and agrees to perform an important task for his rival.
When the world was young, Earth was silent. People spent their days caring for their fields and their homes. They raised families and passed on their ancestors traditions. However they did not join together in song during happy times. They did not dance or play the flute. Nor did they lift their voices to the sky during times of grief. They lived their lives in silence, never knowing the the joy that music brings to the soul. Although their hearts beat, they never soared.
High above the Earth, Tezcatlipoca, the God of the Smoking Mirror, watched sadly. One night, he came to Earth and called to Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent.
As the mighty Wind, Quetzalcoatl blew the clouds across the sky and the foam high above the seas. When he pushed against the clouds, they fell from the sky as rain. When he beat against the rocks, they turned to sand.
The God of the Smoking Mirror and the Feathered Serpent had never been friends, but now the great Tezcatlipoca needed the Wind's help. "We must put aside our past anger and work together. It is time to bring music to the world and songs to all people. Earth must not live another day without the sound of the flute or the the drums. This must be your quest."
As soon as he heard the great God’s words, Wind stopped his work. Leaves no longer fell from the trees and storm clouds no longer fought each other in the sky. Then Wind floated gently to rest at the feet of the God of the Smoking Mirror. “Where is the music that will make humans hearts sing at last?”
Tezcatlipoca pointed to the Sun, as bright as a ripe orange in the sky. “All the music in the world now site in the House of the Sun. There you will find musicians playing the flute, the drums, the cymbals and the horn.” The mighty God then instructed the Wind to free all four musicians from the House of the Sun. Immediately the Feathered Serpent set out.
Because he had far to go, the Wind rose swiftly through the air. As powerful as he was, he worried about finding the House of the Sun. As he raced across the seas; three water maidens offered their help. By braiding their long hair together, they formed a bridge to the Sky. The Wind used this bridge to reach the House of the Sun, where he faced a blinding light.
Behind the light were the four musicians, dressed in costumes of different colors. The flute player dressed in yellow played sweet songs for children that floated high in the air. The drummer in red beat out tales of famous Gods. The horn player in blue played the songs of happy times as he tapped his feet. At the same time, a musician in white struck her cymbals. While she played she leapt and twirled in a golden dance.
At first, the Wind hid behind a golden pillar in back of the House of the Sun. However, the golden Sun God saw everything that happened in his world. Furious at the Wind’s arrival, he ordered his musicians to be quiet. “If anyone makes a sound, you will all have to return to Earth with this wicked God.” Immediately the flute, the drum, the cymbal and horn stopped their songs. The musicians looked at the Wind, uncertain of what to do. In an instant, the sky above was as still as the Earth below.
The Sun stood up and called the Feathered Serpent to step forward. Although all four musicians trembled, the Wind was unafraid. He was determined to carry them back to Earth and bring their joy to all the people there. When Quetzalcoatl faced the Sun, a dozen storms swirled around his feet. His breath blew the sleeping stars until some fell from the sky.
Amid the great roar, the Wind called softly to the four musicians to leave the Sun and follow him to Earth. Not one of them replied. The cymbals, drums, flute and horn had lost their voices. The mighty Wind again called them forward, This time his voice filled the Sun's golden pace and echoed through the air. The powerful Sun answered the Wind with a burst of fiery flame. A flash of light but through the air. The musicians quickly huddled together, longing for an end to the Sun's rage.
Then, the great Tezcatlipoca, ruler of the world, answered the Sun. His anger was ten times greater; his roar was twenty times louder.As he cast his thunderbolts- the sky shook. When he flashed his lightening, Earth trembled. Black clouds raced across the sky, as if answering his call. They flew into the House of the Sun and pushed against the walls of gold.
Above the roar, the Sun called to his four musicians. "Do not fear. I will be victorious and keep you in my world forever." Even as he spoke, the floor of the great palace crumbled. The terrified players gathered up their instruments and rushed into the lap of the Wind. His arms were strong enough to carry all of them through the sky. Their costumes of red, white, blue and yellow formed a rainbow against the clouds. When all four musicians were safe, the God of the Smoking Mirror retreated. The Sun, now a crumpled ball of gold, lay still at last.
Quickly the Wind began his downward journey to Earth. The four players flew past the whispering clouds. Below them the green Earth lifted up its arms. All living creatures eagerly awaited their arrival. The Wind smiled, pleased that his long quest was over. He had brought the four musicians of the Sun safely to Earth. Now he listened happily as they began to play.
First, the songs of the flute, floated through the air and touched the tops of the trees. Next, the beat of the drum echoed in the forests and jungles calling to the animals there. Birds answered with songs that leapt from their hearts. Lions and tigers roared until the ground trembled.
In another corner of the world, the sound of the cymbals was welcomed by the people in a small village. Finally the last musician answered his friends and blew a happy tune on his horn. Their notes all came together from the four corners of the world. A beautiful melody soared high into the heavens, finally reaching the House of the Sun. There, the sound was very faint.
On Earth the music echoed int he tress and the grass. It climbed to the tops of the tallest mountains before falling to the bottom of the deepest valleys. As the music soared, so did the hearts of all living beings. Soon, they answered the music with their own clear voices. They had learned to sing at last. Safe on Earth, the musicians never returned to the Sun. Since that day long ago, the world was never silent again.
From Hare Rescues the Sun & Other Sky Myths
Adapted by Cynthia Benjamin
