|
In many
ways, this is how some gods were born in the olden days. In many
ways, Capa gave birth to the Sun. It would be named after him
and his memory worshipped through it. An atheist giving birth to
a god, touching it, and becoming it. The world comes full
circle. We are all stardust.
The
ship/mission's name is "Icarus," alluding to the Greek
myth of the boy who flew too close to the Sun and fell to a
watery doom when it melted the wax binding his wings. But I
think Sunshine's story is closer to the Aztec myth of the Fifth
Sun. It was believed that stars, just as any other creature,
needed nourishment to survive. We now know this to be true, for
stars need constant fuel to exist. The four previous Aztec Suns fed on
water, wind, earth, but have all grown unstable and died,
leaving the world in darkness. The gods were not sure what to
do. Who would become the new Sun? And how could they make sure
it endures? This
task fell to the proud Tecuciztecatl and the humble Nanahuatzin.
For four days they ritually purified themselves with offerings
and bloodletting, and on the eve of the last day, they prepared
to hurl themselves into the sacrificial bonfire and become the
Sun. |