Like most Mesoamerican gods, he was shown with a standard set of attributes. READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. 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. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. 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. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. 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 language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. [18][need quotation to verify]. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. 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. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. He was known as the inventor of books and the calendar, the giver of maize (corn) to mankind, and sometimes as a symbol of death and resurrection. Welcome. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. In the codices, he was generally more human-like. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. These sources further claimed that it was because of this superstition that Moctezuma II invited Cortes as a guest and didnt harm him or his soldiers. This talisman was a conch shell cut at the cross-section and was likely worn as a necklace by religious rulers, as such objects have been discovered in burials in archaeological sites throughout Mesoamerica,[6] and potentially symbolized patterns witnessed in hurricanes, dust devils, seashells, and whirlpools, which were elemental forces that had significance in Aztec mythology. That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, and veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout . In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. 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. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. But still, how could that ever be the case? 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. [30], He is also attributed with having brought the cacao plant from a sacred mountain to the Toltec people, teaching the women how to make traditional drinking chocolate.[31]. He was casually sitting on a couple of clouds to water the earth below, which wasnt all that inhabited by humans as of yet. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. You have graciously arrived, you have known pain, you have known weariness, now come on earth, take your rest, enter into your palace, rest your limbs; may our lords come on earth. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. Different cultures associated him with priesthood and kingship, further complicating his mythology in later retellings. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. 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 . In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. 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. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself. Before he left, however, he promised to return. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. 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. As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. How should one worship the sun? 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. Toltec religion. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. Kukulkan In the Mayan culture, this name was used by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. There are three different ways you can cite this article. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. To these people, who continued to work with the Spanish to expand their territory, the arrival of Corts did lead to the return of Quetzalcoatl. Cholula had been captured by pro-Aztec forces. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . 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. The first culture to use the symbol of a feathered serpent as an important religious and political symbol was that of Teotihuacan. 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. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. 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. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. [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. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. The feathered serpent was a deity who was widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of time. The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) With great respect and awe. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. And, it wasnt so bad after all. Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. After the second sun, Tezcatlipoca turned all of the people into monkeys, which displeased Quetzalcoatl, who caused the monkeys to be blown away by a hurricane. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. 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. 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 . The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. [15] In the 17th century, Ixtlilxchitl, a descendant of Aztec royalty and historian of the Nahua people, wrote, "Quetzalcoatl, in its literal sense, means 'serpent of precious feathers' but in the allegorical sense, 'wisest of men'."[16]. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. Mason-Dixon Line The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-box-4','ezslot_7',140,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-box-4-0'); This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); By the Late Classic Period (600AD-900AD), it appears that the worship of Quetzalcoatl had spread throughout the Mesoamerican region. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. 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. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. Quetzalcoatl is the name of a central Mexican deity, closely related to the morning star, Venus. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. 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. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. [9] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl. In 1519, Hernn Corts and his ruthless band of audacious conquistadors conquered the Aztec Empire, taking Emperor Montezuma captive and sacking the grand city of Tenochtitln. Colonial documentary sources from the Maya area frequently speak of the arrival of foreigners from the central Mexican plateau, often led by a man whose name translates as "Feathered Serpent". Worship of Quetzalcoatl can be traced back to as early as the Teotihuacan civilization, a prominent urban center that peaked between the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. One day, Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day. He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. 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. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. 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