Human worship. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. But still, how could that ever be the case? Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. The first keeper of written records, he was patron of the Calmecac, a school for noble children who learned to paint histories and astrology, as well as practice the art of war. His most prominent manifestation in art, however, is literally that of a serpent with a feathered head.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-medrectangle-4-0'); There is also rich iconography, sculpture, and mythology associated with Quetzalcoatl among all the major cultures of Mesoamerica not just in history but also in the modern world.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-banner-1-0'); Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. What a conundrum. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. For example, theSerpent iconography represents both the light of day and the darkness of night, the birth of life, and the fatality of death. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. 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. Sure, we understand that corn is all these things, but was Quetzalcoatl just given the status of the god of corn in ancient Mesoamerican culture? The Coatlicue sculpture in Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology is one of the most famous Mexica (Aztec) sculptures in existence (her name is pronounced "koh-at-lee-kway"). In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. 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. 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. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. Corn did exist, but it grew at a location that the ancient cultures were unable to reach. [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. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. According to one version, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. 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/. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order As Quetzalcoatl Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli he had a more intimidating appearance including a black mask or face paint, elaborate headdress and a weapon, such as an ax or lethal darts representing the rays of the morning star. 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. Cholula had been captured by pro-Aztec forces. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. 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. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. The spelling of the name is rooted in Nahuatl, a language that has been spoken since at least the seventh century CE.The first part comes from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, meaning precious green feather. The second part of his name, coatl, means serpent. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. Historian Matthew Restall concludes that: The legend of the returning lords, originated during the Spanish-Mexica war in Corts' reworking of Moctezuma's welcome speech, had by the 1550s merged with the Corts-as-Quetzalcoatl legend that the Franciscans had started spreading in the 1530s. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. Toltec religion. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. [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. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. That is, according to the Aztecs. The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. [9] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl. 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 . Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Indeed, the same as the one from the Great Pyramid. 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. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. 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. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. In Aztec culture, this was considered to be one of the most important primal forces. However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. With great respect and awe. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. 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., -Bernadino de Sahagn, Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. 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.. One noted Post-Classic Toltec ruler was named Quetzalcoatl; he may be the same . Welcome. How old is the United States of America? These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. [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 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. As a double of Quetzalcoatl, he carries his conch-like ehecailacacozcatl or wind jewel.Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl to Mictlan, the land of the dead, or the underworld, to retrieve the bones from . 3. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Ashamed, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, eventually reaching the Gulf Coast. Nor would he be seen as the reincarnation of the Feathered Serpent god.Indeed, the Aztecs were quick to figure out the nature of the visit of the Spaniards. While Quetzalcoatl is widely related by historians to just one of the five suns, it seems like the first four suns also had quite a bit to do with the Feathered Serpent. 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. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. 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. Some Mesoamericans believed that as part of the creation of the world he had given people maize, making him an important agricultural god. 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). He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. 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. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. 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. The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. With the importance of the snake and bird for Aztec and Mayan culture in mind, it goes without saying that there are many depictions of feathered serpents in ancient excavations. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. 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. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. And, it wasnt so bad after all. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. Before he left, however, he promised to return. He also encouraged them to worship a different god, Quetzalcoatl (kehtsahlkoh AHT uhl), or the Feathered Serpent. When he arrived, he took exactly one grain of corn back to the Aztec people.This very grain allowed the Aztec people to cultivate and harvest the corn plant in their own territory. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. Or rather, arrived again. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. [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. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. 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. Have you ever eaten blue, white, black, or red corn? Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. In an example from Yaxchilan, the Vision Serpent has the human face of the young maize-god, further suggesting a connection to fertility and vegetational renewal; the Maya Young Maize god was also connected to Venus. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. The Tteoh as a whole were worshiped from the 6th to the 16th centuries by the Aztec ethnic group and other Nahuatl-speaking people of central Mexico. 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. All but one. The Church of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormons, teaches that Jesus Christ walked the Earth after his resurrection, spreading the word of Christianity to all corners of the globe. ThoughtCo. This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. 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. 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. [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. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. How should one worship the sun? Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. 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. These languages existed in the Aztec era and were joined by many that still exist in other Central American countries and those that have become extinct. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. This strongly suggests that these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl. 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. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. 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. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. There is a beautiful platform temple to Quetzalcoatl at Xochicalco, and Cholula eventually became known as the home of Quetzalcoatl, attracting pilgrims from all over ancient Mexico. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. 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. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. In the codices, he was generally more human-like. 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