Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. The earliest depictions of the feathered serpent deity were fully zoomorphic, depicting the serpent as an actual snake, but already among the Classic Maya, images of the deity began acquiring human features, such as the beard (see the Borgia codex illustration above) that he was sometimes depicted with. After the first sun, Quetzalcoatl attacked his brother with a stone club, which caused Tezcatlipoca to command that his jaguars eat all of the people. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. ThoughtCo. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. The worship of Quetzalcoatl became widespread with the rise of the Toltec civilization around 900 A.D. and spread throughout the region, even down to the Yucatan peninsula where it caught on with the Maya. 1. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. It is said that he is called the god of wind, spirit of rain, the god of culture, and the . Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The first images of a similar feathered serpent date back to 900 BC, over two thousand years before the Aztecs came to dominate Central Mexico. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. Ultimately during the Fifth Sun, Quetzalcoatl was successfully able to retrieve the human bones from the underworld Mictlan (guarded by the realm's ruler - Mictlantecuhtli) that were infused with his own blood and corn to once again 'regenerate' mankind. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. Since the sixteenth century, it has been widely held that the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II initially believed the landing of Hernn Corts in 1519 to be Quetzalcoatl's return. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. After Topiltzin's exile, Toltec power began to decline. The feathered serpent was a deity who was widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of time. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. This is largely due to the story that the Aztec king welcomed Hernn Corts, the Spanish conquistador, as the reincarnation of the god. Mictlanteuctli and Mictlancihuatl, the two gods that ruled that realm, gave him a puzzle he was expected to complete before he could take the bones. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. What is often called the Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states, established in the 14th and 15th centuries. Manage Settings Rather than the conquistador himself being the wind god, however, it was that his army allowed the Puebla and their allies to reclaim the pyramid of Tlachihualtepetl, the center of Quezalcoatls cult. . In the episode "Damnesia You," Xavier winds up in the Aztec world and is immediately (and unsuccessfully) sacrificed for insulting the Sun God, and during the sacrifice the Aztecs humorously fail to pronounce his name. Mason-Dixon Line The connection between Quetzalcoatl and the fall of the Aztec Empire may also have its roots in political events that predated the arrival of Corts and his army. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. According to Toltec and Maya accounts, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl lived in Tula for a while before a dispute with the warrior class over human sacrifice led to his departure. In the codices, he was generally more human-like. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. Some scholarship maintains the view that the Aztec Empire's fall may be attributed in part to the belief in Corts as the returning Quetzalcoatl, notably in works by David Carrasco (1982), H. B. Nicholson (2001 (1957)) and John Pohl (2016). Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. In the Aztec ritual calendar, different deities were associated with the cycle-of-year names: Quetzalcoatl was tied to the year Ce Acatl (One Reed), which correlates to the year 1519. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. This view has been questioned by ethno-historians who argue that the Quetzalcoatl-Corts connection is not found in any document that was created independently of post-Conquest Spanish influence, and that there is little proof of a pre-Hispanic belief in Quetzalcoatl's return. How should one worship the sun? He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. One legend claimed that the star was Quetzalcoatls heart, placed in the sky after he burned himself alive out of shame for neglecting his duties. [24], According to another version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl is one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, the four Tezcatlipocas, each of whom presided over one of the four cardinal directions. Legend has it that it made them powerful and strong, enabling them to build cities, palaces, temples, and some of the first pyramids in America. The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. All good eclipses must come to an end, and this happened when the snake evolved into a Feathered Serpent and flew out of the sun again. Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Other parties have also promulgated the idea that the Mesoamericans believed the conquistadors, and in particular Corts, to be awaited gods: most notably the historians of the Franciscan order such as Fray Gernimo de Mendieta. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. In the modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. In the era following the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, a number of records conflated Quetzalcoatl with Ce Acatl Topiltzin, a ruler of the mythico-historic city of Tollan. In fact, the then-current king himself, Moteuhzoma II, prophesied the return of Quetzalcoatl as a white-bearded person even if it would mean that hed have to give up his place on the throne. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. Minster, Christopher. The next morning, Quetzalcoatl, feeling shame and regret, had his servants build him a stone chest, adorn him in turquoise, and then, laying in the chest, set himself on fire. [32][33][34][35][36] Most documents expounding this theory are of entirely Spanish origin, such as Corts's letters to Charles V of Spain, in which Corts goes to great pains to present the naive gullibility of the Aztecs in general as a great aid in the conquest of the Aztec Empire. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. All but one. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. Some followers of the Latter Day Saints movement believe that Quetzalcoatl was historically Jesus Christ, who Latter-day Saints believe visited the New World as a resurrected being as reported in the Book of Mormon, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. In Aztec culture, this was considered to be one of the most important primal forces. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. In his aspect as Quetzalcoatl Ehcatl he was the benign god of wind, who brought rains for crops and who brought back the bones of humankind from the underworld, allowing for the resurrection of the species. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. [22] A third story narrates that Chimalman was hit in the womb by an arrow shot by Mixcoatl and nine months later she gave birth to a child which was called Quetzalcoatl. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. [20] Historian Enrique Florescano - also analyzing Teotihuacan iconography - argues that the Feathered Serpent was part of a triad of agricultural deities: The feathered serpent was furthermore connected to the planet Venus because of this planet's importance as a sign of the beginning of the rainy season. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. Some Franciscan monks claimed that the people of Mexico had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle who was said to have traveled beyond the Ganges to preach the gospel. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. In another legend, still told in Mexico, Quetzalcoatl was feeling ill. His brother Tezcatlipoca, who wanted to be rid of Quetzalcoatl, came up with a clever plan. [11] That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period (400 BC 600 AD) of Mesoamerican chronology; veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout Mesoamerica by the Late Classic period (600900AD). Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. They therefore claimed that Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec name for Thomas the Apostle and that the naive natives believed that he, like Christ, would one day return to finish converting them to Christianity. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. 3. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, How Quetzalcoatl Created and Sustained Humans, How Quetzalcoatl Became Part of the Tezcatlipocas, Aztec and Maya Serpent Imagery of Quetzalcoatl, Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World, Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World, 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World, Herne the Hunter: Spirit of Windsor Forest, Sif: The Golden-Haired Goddess of the Norse, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? Quetzalcoatl is one of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, but how much do you actually know about the feathered serpent of pre-Columbian Mexico? Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. Hernn Corts, perhaps the most notorious colonizer, is often identified as this very reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. Tlaloc we already know. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. Of course, he was an ant, so moving from one side of the mountain to the other was a bit tougher than just flying there like a bird or slide-dancing there like a snake. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Quetzalcoatl is not a religious symbol in the Latter-day Saint faith, and is not taught as such, nor is it in their doctrine that Quetzalcoatl is Jesus. Although little is known about the specific ways in which he was revered, some historians believe that the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms and other intoxicants may have played a large role. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. As an Aztec deity, he was one of four sons of the creator god Ometeotl, associated with the wind god, and the patron god of arts and knowledge. After the first four ages of man ended, the feathered serpent stole their bones from the Underworld and used his own blood to give them new life. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. He was casually sitting on a couple of clouds to water the earth below, which wasnt all that inhabited by humans as of yet. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. It may be that the historical Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl was deified into Quetzalcoatl the god, or he may have assumed the mantle of an already existing divine entity. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. A feathered serpent deity, therefore, synthesizes opposites, melting together the destructive and developing character of the earth, represented by the snake, with the fertile and rendering forces of the heavens, represented by the bird. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. According to the Book of Mormon, the resurrected Jesus Christ descended from heaven and visited the people of the American continent, shortly after his resurrection. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. If this speech was actually given, its likely that ignorance of Aztec customs and Nahuatl speech patterns was to blame for giving the impression that Montezuma was willingly handing over power to a divine being. The archaeological record shows that after the fall of Teotihuacan that marked the beginning of the epi-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology around 600 AD, the cult of the feathered serpent spread to new religious and political centers in central Mexico, centers such as Xochicalco, Cacaxtla and Cholula. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. The Teotihuacan iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a version where Quetzalcoatl played the role of a fertility-related serpent deity. Among the Aztecs, the name Quetzalcoatl was also a priestly title, as the two most important priests of the Aztec Templo Mayor were called "Quetzalcoatl Tlamacazqui". Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. 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