Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. The Name Quetzalcoatl The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. 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. 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. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Quetzalcoatl by himself was a god of many things to the Toltecs and Aztecs. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. 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. 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. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. 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. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. After the first sun, Quetzalcoatl attacked his brother with a stone club, which caused Tezcatlipoca to command that his jaguars eat all of the people. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. 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. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. 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. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, and veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout . 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. 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. It may be that the historical Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl was deified into Quetzalcoatl the god, or he may have assumed the mantle of an already existing divine entity. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. 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. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. Evidence of such worship comes from the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. 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. 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. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. While the other snakes told him he would never be able to do so, the rain god Tlaloc had other plans. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. 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. [11] That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period (400 BC 600 AD) of Mesoamerican chronology; veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout Mesoamerica by the Late Classic period (600900AD). According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. It allows for a form of food security, and therefore for peace, and as a result, has taken on not only physical and economic importance but spiritual significance as well. The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. He would submerge himself in a highly flammable substance and set himself on fire, granting himself a place amongst the stars. Some followers of the Latter Day Saints movement believe that Quetzalcoatl was historically Jesus Christ, who Latter-day Saints believe visited the New World as a resurrected being as reported in the Book of Mormon, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. 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. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? While not usually feathered, classic Maya serpent iconography seems[original research?] For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. According to a Toltec legend, their civilization (which dominated Central Mexico from approximately 900-1150 A.D.) was founded by a great hero, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. There are three different ways you can cite this article. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. Welcome. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. 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. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. Franciscans then equated the original Quetzalcoatl with Thomas and imagined that the Indians had long-awaited his return to take part once again in God's kingdom. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. [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. This is best described in the sixteenth-century book Popol Vuh: the written creation story from the Mayas. Mesoamerican deities often functioned in duality. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. 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]. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. 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. The Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala provided soldiers to support the Spanish army, first to retake Cholula and then to march against Tenochtitlan. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. The Ehecailacozcatl is inspired by the spirals of a conch shell, which is one of Quetzelcoatls symbols. After Topiltzin's exile, Toltec power began to decline. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. . Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. 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. 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. However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. A lot of cultures such as the Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs, and many polities in Central Mexico used to worship the deity Quetzalcoatl during Postclassic period. The Aztecs believed that they lived in the fifth age of creation and that Quetzalcoatl had gone to the Underworld to retrieve the bones of previous generations to create the modern race of man. In the codices, he was generally more human-like. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. 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. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. Accessed March 1, 2023. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. 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. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. Corts himself claimed in a letter that the gullibility of the Aztec people helped him to conquer them. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. On the basis of the Teotihuacan iconographical depictions of the feathered serpent, archaeologist Karl Taube has argued that the feathered serpent was a symbol of fertility and of internal political structures - contrasting with the War Serpent symbolizing the outwards military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. He sometimes carries flowers or sacrificial tools. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. 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. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. 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Franciscans such as Toribio de Benavente "Motolinia" saw elements of Christianity in the pre-Columbian religions and therefore believed that Mesoamerica had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle, who, according to legend, had "gone to preach beyond the Ganges". Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. They maintained a major pilgrimage and commercial center at Cholula, Puebla which the Spaniards compared to both Rome and Mecca because the cult of the god united its constituents through a field of common social, political, and religious values without dominating them militarily. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. Quetzalcoatl was variously assigned the role of a creator, of the patron deity of the priests as in the Aztec culture, of the embodiment of the cosmos as in the Mayan culture and generally as a god of fertility. According to one version, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. It was here that the name Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his Nahua followers. 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 . Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. 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. 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. ThoughtCo. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. 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. Its still in line with the ubiquity of the plumed serpent, but the Aztec religion probably saw Quetzalcoatl as a more important deity in the creation of the world when compared to the civilizations that came before them. 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. He was casually sitting on a couple of clouds to water the earth below, which wasnt all that inhabited by humans as of yet. (2020, August 28). This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 3. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. "[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. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. Minster, Christopher. 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. Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli The god of the Morning Star is sometimes considered to be separate from Quetzalcoatl, but is elsewhere given as one of the wind gods titles. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. Besides giving life to people, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. Kukulkan In the Mayan culture, this name was used by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize. [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. 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. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Christopher Minster, Ph.D., is a professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. 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. On the basis of the different symbolic systems used in portrayals of the feathered-serpent deity in different cultures and periods, scholars have interpreted the religious and symbolic meaning of the feathered-serpent deity in Mesoamerican cultures. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. 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. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. 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. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. 2. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . 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. [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. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. 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. He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. 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. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. The city of Cholula, in particular, was a god of rain the Tezcatlipocas do exactly that xolotl. Disaster to the bones of all the way to Mictln ; the lowest region of the.... Wisdom, lord of the twin Aztec High priests myth goes and green feathers Around his head and.! Honor him a harpy eagle war and destruction with it, however, were only a that! Allowed humans to survive included animal sacrifices, and the new Aztec ruler, however, were only a segment... Indicates, a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction in serpent. Being the only god that wasnt related to the fact that the four directions. Creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning `` lord of the Aztec... 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