A bright comet appeared in the skies over Mexico, interpreted by Aztec emperor Montezuma as an omen of the Spanish invasion and the empire's destruction. The Aztec "Five Suns" eschatology was closely tied to Venus and comet worship, and celestial phenomena were believed to require sacrifice to appease the gods.
Account
A bright comet appeared in the skies over Mexico, interpreted by Aztec emperor Montezuma as an omen of the Spanish invasion and the empire's destruction. The Aztec "Five Suns" eschatology was closely tied to Venus and comet worship, and celestial phenomena were believed to require sacrifice to appease the gods.
Contested
The comet itself is documented in multiple sources. The interpretation as a prophecy of the conquest is a retrospective reading, common in colonial-era texts.
Sources
- Codex Florentino
- Dresden Codex
- Spanish conquistador accounts