A moon god or goddess who may be synonymous with YOHAULTICETL, COYOLXAUHQUI and/or TECCIZTECATL, all three also Aztec moon deities. He/she is patron of the night and of farmers. Like Tecciztecatl, he/she is afraid of bright fire and failed to sacrifice him/herself to become the sun. This cowardice earned /him/her the title 'god of worms'. Metztli holds a special place in the hearts of the central Mexican people the Otomi, where she is feminine, 'queen of the night', and probably the chief Otomi deity. The Otomi also call her the Old Mother, who represents the moon and Earth simultaneously. Her spouse, the Old Father, is the solar god of fire. Old Mother and Old Father were once equally bright, but Old Father threw a rabbit in the face of Old Mother, darkening her. The rabbit is still visible on the face of the full moon. This legend greatly resembles that of Teccizecatl's origins
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