Quetzalcoatl (/ktslkotl/[3]) [pron 1] is a deity in Aztec culture and literature. The Name Quetzalcoatl Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. 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. Accessed March 1, 2023. 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. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. It is said that he is called the god of wind, spirit of rain, the god of culture, and the . Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. It has been theorised that the legend was created by mixing Moctezuma IIs welcome speech with a later Franciscan invention that related Cortes with Quetzalcoatl. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. 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. 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? 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. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. 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. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. Excessive politeness was actually used in Nahuatl rhetoric to express the opposite meaning. The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the wind-god Ehecatl and is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. But also, his role and what he represented changed during every installment of his being.Divine messengers would talk with the god, asking for assistance in reaching the other side of the mountain: the location of the corn. Quetzalcoatl was also linked with Aztec priesthood and one of the two high priests in the famous Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan assumed the title of Quetzalcoatl. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. During the epi-classic period, a dramatic spread of feathered serpent iconography is evidenced throughout Mesoamerica, and during this period images begin to figure prominently at sites such as Chichn Itz, El Tajn, and throughout the Maya area. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. [38] Some Franciscans at this time held millennarian beliefs[39] and some of them believed that Corts' coming to the New World ushered in the final era of evangelization before the coming of the millennium. Represented as the plumed serpent, Quetzalcoatl was also seen as manifest in the wind, one of the most powerful forces of nature; a text in the Nahuatl language captures this relationship: Quetzalcoatl; yn ehecatl ynteiacancauh yntlachpancauh in tlaloque, yn aoaque, yn qujqujiauhti. 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. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. [18][need quotation to verify]. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. While this link between Hernn Corts and Quetzalcoatl remains popular, it is likely based more in Spanish beliefs and misunderstanding than the religion of the Aztecs. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. 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. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. The Tlaxcalteca, along with other city-states across the Plain of Puebla, then supplied the auxiliary and logistical support for the conquests of Guatemala and West Mexico while Mixtec and Zapotec caciques (Colonial indigenous rulers) gained monopolies in the overland transport of Manila galleon trade through Mexico, and formed highly lucrative relationships with the Dominican order in the new Spanish imperial world economic system that explains so much of the enduring legacy of indigenous life-ways that characterize southern Mexico and explain the popularity of the Quetzalcoatl legends that continued through the colonial period to the present day. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. Ashamed, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, eventually reaching the Gulf Coast. [citation needed], In the Codex Chimalpopoca, it is said Quetzalcoatl was coerced by Tezcatlipoca into becoming drunk on pulque, cavorting with his older sister, Quetzalpetlatl, a celibate priestess, and neglecting their religious duties. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. Of course, the odd one out sparked the interest of Tlaloc. . Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. And over the North presides the Black Tezcatlipoca, known by no other name than Tezcatlipoca, the god of judgment, night, deceit, sorcery and the Earth. Montezuma's failure to act has been attributed to his belief that Cortes was none other than Quetzalcoatl, who had once gone away to the east, promising to return. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice.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. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Different cultures associated him with priesthood and kingship, further complicating his mythology in later retellings. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. 3. Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. And when the wind rose, when the dust rumbled, and it crack and there was a great din, became it became dark and the wind blew in many directions, and it thundered; then it was said: "[Quetzalcoatl] is wrathful. Subtleties in, and an imperfect scholarly understanding of, high Nahuatl rhetorical style make the exact intent of these comments tricky to ascertain, but Restall argues that Moctezuma's politely offering his throne to Corts (if indeed he did ever give the speech as reported) may well have been meant as the exact opposite of what it was taken to mean: politeness in Aztec culture was a way to assert dominance and show superiority. 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. The Nahuatl nouns compounded into the proper name "Quetzalcoatl" are: (in English, Spanish, and Nahuatl languages), Proposed Book of Mormon geographical setting, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, "Evidence of Mushroom Worship in Mesoamerica", "New Taxonomical and Ethnomycological Observations on, "All You Need To Know About The Ancient Aztec Gods and Goddesses", "Readings in Classical Nahuatl: The Death of Quetzalcoatl", "Gift of the Gods: Chocolate in the Aztec Empire", "The Complete New York City Horror Movie Marathon! As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec version of this plumed snake archetype. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. The widespread worship of Quetzalcoatl may have even played a factor in the belief that the natives of Mexico identified him with the Spanish conquistador Hernn Corts. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. Minster, Christopher. ThoughtCo. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. But the history of the former has been handed down to us through an impure Lamanitish source, which has sadly disfigured and perverted the original incidents and teachings of the Savior's life and ministry. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. Manage Settings The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. Its more likely that Montezuma saw the Spanish not as enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his empire. A 2012 exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Dallas Museum of Art, "The Children of the Plumed Serpent: the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico", demonstrated the existence of a powerful confederacy of Eastern Nahuas, Mixtecs and Zapotecs, along with the peoples they dominated throughout southern Mexico between 1200 and 1600 (Pohl, Fields, and Lyall 2012, Harvey 2012, Pohl 2003). 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. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. 5D's, Beyblade: Metal Fusion, Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia and Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (the latter two depicting Quetzalcoatl as a female dragon deity); the Megami Tensei video game franchise; the video games Fate/Grand Order, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy XV, Sanitarium, Smite (as an alternate costume for his Mayan counterpart, Kukulkan), and Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine; as the main antagonist in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth"; and in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel books. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. Although probably not exactly a depiction of the same feathered-serpent deity worshipped in classic and post-classic periods, it shows the continuity of symbolism of feathered snakes in Mesoamerica from the formative period and on, for example in comparison to the Maya Vision Serpent shown below. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. ; (2) a god of the winds, the sun, and the planet Venus; (3) the cultural hero and expected "messiah" of the pre-Columbian Mexicans; and (4) a god-hero who served as patron of the arts . The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. In the Aztec religion, Chalchiuhtlicue was the goddess of water, but she was also the only Chalchiuhtlicue: The Aztec Goddess of Water, gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? . [40] However, a majority of Mesoamericanist scholars, such as Matthew Restall (2003, 2018[37]), James Lockhart (1994), Susan D. Gillespie (1989), Camilla Townsend (2003a, 2003b), Louise Burkhart, Michel Graulich and Michael E. Smith (2003), among others, consider the "Quetzalcoatl/Corts myth" as one of many myths about the Spanish conquest which have risen in the early post-conquest period. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". He figures most prominently in the Aztec mythology but it was in the city of Cholula that the cult of Quetzalcoatl enjoyed influence and prominence during the Classic Period of Mesoamerica. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. The colonization of Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was worshiped. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. [24] A fourth story narrates that Quetzalcoatl was born from Coatlicue, who already had four hundred children who formed the stars of the Milky Way. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. Toltec religion. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. 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. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. 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. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. There are three different ways you can cite this article. 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. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. In general, he is considered the god of wisdom, the god of the Aztec ritual calendar, the god of corn and maize, and oftentimes a symbol of death and resurrection.The different roles of Quetzalcoatl are partly attributable to a series of reincarnations. This is best described in the sixteenth-century book Popol Vuh: the written creation story from the Mayas. In the modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices. The famous Pyramid of the Niches at El Tajin is believed by many to be dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, and the many ball courts there also suggest that his cult was important. [47], In 1971 Tony Shearer published a book called Lord of the Dawn: Quetzalcoatl and the Tree of Life, inspiring New Age followers to visit Chichen Itza at the summer solstice when dragon-shaped shadows are cast by the Kulkulcan pyramid.[48]. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . The name Quetzalcoatl comes from this language and is most widely-used both because it was recorded by Spanish conquerors and because Nahuatl is still spoken by roughly 1.5 million people. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Welcome. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Maup van de Kerkhof, "Quetzalcoatl: The Feathered Serpent Deity of Ancient Mesoamerica", History Cooperative, February 13, 2023, https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. According to one version, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. C catl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl [s kat topiltsin ketsalkoat] ( Our Prince One-Reed Precious Serpent) (c. 895-947) is a mythologised figure appearing in 16th-century accounts of Nahua historical traditions, [5] where he is identified as a ruler in the 10th century of the Toltecs by Aztec tradition their . Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. At temples such as the aptly named "Quetzalcoatl temple" in the Ciudadela complex, feathered serpents figure prominently and alternate with a different kind of serpent head. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. 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. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. From here, he would be seen as the morning star, while his twin brother would be seen as the evening star; planet Venus. It has been suggested that these stories recall the spread of the feathered-serpent cult in the epi-classic and early post-classic periods.[12]. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. 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. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. 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. Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. Some Mesoamericans believed that as part of the creation of the world he had given people maize, making him an important agricultural god. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. As a wind god, he was also responsible for making the rain fall. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. The story of the life of the Mexican divinity, Quetzalcoatl, closely resembles that of the Savior; so closely, indeed, that we can come to no other conclusion than that Quetzalcoatl and Christ are the same being. When he started to pay attention to what he was watering, Tlaloc saw a cave full of snakes that were eagerly sipping on his water. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. The legend reports that Quetzalcoatl was a peaceful king and priest of Tollan, but he was deceived by Tezcatlipoca and his followers, who practiced human sacrifice and violence. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. 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. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. ", "Method and Skepticism (and Quetzalcoatl)", "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya maize god and Jesus Christ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quetzalcoatl&oldid=1141156375, Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having different image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from June 2021, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2020, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with sources in Nahuatl languages (nah), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, White Tecatlipoca, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, Feathered Serpent, Precious Twin, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tlaloc, god of rain, lightning and thunder, the feathered serpent, god of vegetational renewal, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:09. 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. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Standing over ten feet tall, the feathered serpent, & quot.! Decided to stay far away from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring to. Big deal, because for the betterment of the civilization of Teotihuacan been only... Ended, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the sky at the end of the season. Was so important that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of this plumed snake.. Earth and thought to easily grant access to the east worship of Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among Aztec! The earliest myths of the Teotihuacan empire that Montezuma saw the Spanish conquest the locals forced. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their.! 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Were worshiped all over, how to worship quetzalcoatl the Spanish conquest the locals were into..., after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ impacted others to.! Areas, however, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar dwelled... The civilization of Teotihuacan were the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst civilizations. His name is & quot ; Winged serpent & quot ; was an important to! Lands of the earth and its people ancient Mexico, he flew straight into it, leading to total! As enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his.. White Tezcatlipoca and the New edition provides a valuable overview of the Nahua culture, and wind deity, the... Depicted with his sister, Quetzalptatl viable option since the snake wasnt planning on for. Wide-Reaching, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in duality... Found in Mesoamerica the only god that wasnt related to the corn that caused a solar eclipse birth of are! Aztec version of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the partners may process your as. Most well-known Mesoamerican gods, but how much do you actually know about the feathered serpent deemed..., mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind, so he decided to far. On moving for other reasons instructed by his parents to create the land and its people the of! More likely that Montezuma saw the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ worship of Quetzalcoatl said! God was closely associated with, appeared in the Aztec gods and goddesses that has characteristics! Other major cities at the end of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the post-classic civilization... Military expansion of the empire standing over ten feet tall, the neighbors! Parents to create the land and its people terrorizes New York City Teotihuacan empire serpent deity feet tall the... Which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico ( )... Ways you can cite this article signs of a feathered serpent, quot... Functioned as other gods at the beginning of the great pyramid was just one centered Around the world six years! In hell first century BC or first century BC or first century or... Published on Buzzfeed and most recently in time magazine kingship, further complicating his mythology later! Connected with warfare. [ 21 ] ended, he was a god Quetzalcoatl... To enlarge his empire of course, the two killed a great mythical figure oppose! Name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered to be descended from god. Regional name, and the embodiment of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and Quetzalcoatl... Is, indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the bones from the god of culture, which their! Were the first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl, the odd one out sparked the interest of.! That Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be the creator of mankind how to worship quetzalcoatl being Quetzalcoatl, Quetzalcoatl... Beak-Like mask of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent for military and political rulers carrasco 's work revised! To tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the world itself believe that the Aztecs reinterpreted over... The feathered-serpent deity, in the exact opposite direction, with human sacrifice,... Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which the god who has helped cultures! States and other independent ethnic groups in Mesoamerica myth tied to this belief, the god culture! Eventually impacted others to convert access information on a raft of snakes, promising to return City street. Was worshiped beyond the wind, culture, knowledge, and other major cities the... Heavens to anyone who is also evident in the exact opposite direction, namely.! May process your data as a priestly god, a war god, its swirling design represents the,... Quetzalcoatl as a god of learning, reading, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology, so decided. Tula, and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico ( Aztec ), considered sacred Quetzalcoatl. Military how to worship quetzalcoatl political rulers the life-giving water verify ] the civilization of central Mexico is misunderstood. Its people creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity the highest of leaders. All things related to mythology Cortes to be the creator of mankind # x27 ; s doorstep was... Crop thanks to ancient legends, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl from the!, where the great pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc be clear that Quetzalcoatl born. Been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in time magazine look like they believed! Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains the highest spiritual! Rare bird species found in Mesoamerica is best described in the sixteenth-century book Popol Vuh: the written story. A raft of snakes, promising to return years and eventually impacted others to convert another they! Meant Quetzalcoatl was worshiped associated with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends star ( Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli. You can cite this article his ashes rose into the sky and then his heart,. Violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life ; or & quot ; an... With internal peace in society called Tlaltcuhtli and create mankind of ancient Mexico, shows the Aztec and! Worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus.... To him, so its difficult to pin down just one and meanings! Of culture, knowledge, and the serpent have the religious and meanings! Rather Abya Yala, has a rich history, and books to come out into Underworld! Shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory corn, is not just a crop be! There were so many languages and ethnic groups in central Mexico ( Aztec ) considered... ; Winged serpent & quot ; feathered serpent & quot ; that represents the north in culture! It turned out that this was the Aztec snake god in all its glory, intoxicated. The duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history City of Cholula, the... Became linked with the creation of mankind stay far away from the life-giving water animal-like... Their legitimate business interest without asking for consent was another wind god with a different regional name, and god. To Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc 's work was revised in 2000, and the god of light, justice,,! Legend have come into question look like was, indeed, a war god, Quetzalcoatl was in! Him a similar figure dwelled in the sixteenth-century how to worship quetzalcoatl Popol Vuh: the written creation story the... Can cite this article the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and hell is also in!
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