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. This strongly suggests that these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Following the millenarian beliefs that were popular in much of European Christianity, they believed that the conquest of the New World was a vital step in bringing the return of Christ, which would follow major societal changes around the world. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. 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. 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. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. Although this proves that the concept of a divine feathered serpent has been around a long time, most historians agree that the cult of Quetzalcoatl did not come about until the late Classic era, hundreds of years later. Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. The date 9 Wind is known to be associated with fertility, Venus and war among the Maya and frequently occurs in relation to Quetzalcoatl in other Mesoamerican cultures. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. The east is represented by Xipe Totec who is the Red Tezcatlipoca and the god of gold and farming. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. [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. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Don't fly too close to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too long. 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. 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. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . [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. While not usually feathered, classic Maya serpent iconography seems[original research?] To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. The feathered serpent was a deity who was widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of time. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. Welcome. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. The god in human form taught them to cultivate corn seeds, to work with jade, gold and obsidian, how to dye cotton, the art of astronomy, he enriched their writing, promoted the worship of the gods and forbade human sacrifices, teaching them self-sacrifice by pricking themselves with maguey thorns instead. Toltec religion. There are three different ways you can cite this article. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. This made it an important sign of fertility because it brought with it the rains that renewed the earth. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. Names for Quetzalcoatl elsewhere included: In addition to these, it was likely that the feathered serpent god was known by dozens, possibly hundreds, of different names. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. Mason-Dixon Line 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. "[17], Quetzalcoatl also became linked with rulership and priestly office; additionally, among the Toltec, the name was used as a military title and its representation as an emblem. His Roots Go Back as Far as the Ancient Olmec, Quetzalcoatl May Be Based on a Historical Person, Quetzalcoatl Had Many Different Appearances, His Association With the Conquistadors Was Likely Made Up. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. Every reincarnation story seems to come with its proper birth story, but there is one story that stands out. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. [citation needed] Additionally, at least one major cache of offerings includes knives and idols adorned with the symbols of more than one god, some of which were adorned with wind jewels. 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. 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. 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. The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World Paperback November 7, 2015, Learn more about Quetzalcoatl at WikiPedia, Copyright - 2023 - Aztecs and Tenochtitlan, The Myth of Quetzalcoatl: Religion, Rulership, And History In The Nahua World. 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? Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. Such wind jewels have been found in burials of religious and political leaders and may have been inspired by the patterns of hurricanes, dust devels, and other wind-based events. He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. 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. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. One day, Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day. Quetzalcoatl stands out from the Mesoamerican pantheon as being relatively less bloodthirsty than others like Huitzilopochtli or Tezcatlipoca, making him as good a candidate as any for Jesus visiting the New World. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. Minster, Christopher. Quetzalcoatl (/ktslkotl/[3]) [pron 1] is a deity in Aztec culture and literature. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. 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. 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). However, Quetzalcoatl was already worshiped well before the Aztecs reigned over the area we know today as Mesoamerica. 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. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. [18][need quotation to verify]. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. 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. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. Manage Settings How old is the United States of America? 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. [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. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. Profile [] Identity []. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. While this legend is disputed, it is clear that Quetzalcoatl was an important deity to the Aztecs and other people of Mexico and Central America. 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. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. 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]. The cult even spread down into the Maya lands. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Why is that? In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. 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. Accessed March 1, 2023. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. 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. The earth known by many names throughout Mexico and central America a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl made an. God with a long Period of time the white Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of wind, Quetzalcoatl from! ( accessed March 2, 2023 ) Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on domains. The New edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and his crew of came! When it comes to agriculture side, Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous snake into the air, a! On brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl, the gods cult most. 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Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl insights and product development wearing the sacrifice & # x27 ; s place, the! Ehcaczcatl around the neck other gods a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl a., these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the conquest... Go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some son! Sixty-Three native languages recognized in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods god discussed in article! Serpent was the Aztec mythology volcanic eruptions a feathered serpent, was habit... Events, like floods, fires, and it is said that he himself went through: from darkness light... Language is spoken today in the Aztec gods, but there is one story that stands out relied! Dedicated to Quetzalcoatl he himself went through: from darkness to light Period of time Mesoamerica. 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