Tzitzimimeh

The tzitzimime (from Nahuatl: tsitsimimeh 'bad-tempered people''tsitsimitl derives from sisinia, to be angry'), singular tzitzímitl (from Nahuatl: tsitsimitl), are a group of monstrous celestial deities belonging to Mexica mythology. After the conquest, they used to be called "demons" or "devils", but this does not necessarily reflect their function in Mexica beliefs.1

They are also considered female stars that try to prevent the sun from rising by attacking it at dawn and dusk, but especially during eclipses. The fifth sun, Nahui Olin (Four Movements), because it is destined to disappear by the force of an earth movement or tremor, at which time the monsters of the West tzizimime, with the appearance of skeletons, will appear and devour all men.

Quetzalcoatl, together with Xolotl, created the present humanity, giving life to the bones of the old dead with their own blood. The present Sun is placed in the center, fifth cardinal point and is attributed to Huehuetéotl, old god of fire, because the fire of the hearth is in the center of the house. (In one of the other versions it is said that the Gods did not want to make more attempt of men hiding the bones in Mictlan, but Quetzalcóatl came down for them and created men again).

Actually about the Legend of the Fifth Sun can be seen several versions, some translated from written codices and others modified from those codices, one more version of this myth is of the Mexica and Maya and was collected by Bernardino de Sahagun. There are many very interesting versions, some more accepted than others. However, it is present in other mythologies recorded by the missionaries of the Indies, who came to America in the early years of the 16th century. For the Mexica and Maya the Fifth Sun was created in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. Another well-known version of this myth is the one found in the Popol Vuh, a Quiché book that narrates, in addition to the creation of the world, the epic of the brothers Hunahpú and Ixbalanqué.

It was believed that they would come to live after the end of the world, as well as that they hung at night over the crossroads waiting for a human. The most important is Itzpapálotl. Another of them was the grandmother of Mayáhuel who participated in the myth of the creation of the Maguey.