[23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. 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? Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. 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. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. 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? His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. 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 History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, How Quetzalcoatl Created and Sustained Humans, How Quetzalcoatl Became Part of the Tezcatlipocas, Aztec and Maya Serpent Imagery of Quetzalcoatl, Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World, Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World, 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World, Herne the Hunter: Spirit of Windsor Forest, Sif: The Golden-Haired Goddess of the Norse, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? Human worship. 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. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. 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. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. 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. 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]. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. 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. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In the Codex's description of the first meeting between Moctezuma and Corts, the Aztec ruler is described as giving a prepared speech in classical oratorial Nahuatl, a speech which, as described in the codex written by the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagn and his Tlatelolcan informants, included such prostrate declarations of divine or near-divine admiration as: You have graciously come on earth, you have graciously approached your water, your high place of Mexico, you have come down to your mat, your throne, which I have briefly kept for you, I who used to keep it for you. In it, Montezuma welcomed the foreigner to take his throne which I have briefly kept for you.. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Much of the idea of Corts being seen as a deity can be traced back to the Florentine Codex written down some 50 years after the conquest. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. 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. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. 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. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. 1. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. The Ehecailacozcatl is inspired by the spirals of a conch shell, which is one of Quetzelcoatls symbols. [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. [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]. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. Toltec religion. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order 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. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. 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. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. [13] Furthermore, early Spanish sources written by clerics tend to identify the god-ruler Quetzalcoatl of these narratives with either Hernn Corts or Thomas the Apostleidentifications which have also become sources of a diversity of opinions about the nature of Quetzalcoatl. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. 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. 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. So Quetzalcoatl is named after the thing he looks like, a feathered serpent deity. 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. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. Profile [] Identity []. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. In the iconography of the classic period, Maya serpent imagery is also prevalent: a snake often appears as the embodiment of the sky itself, and a vision serpent is a shamanic helper presenting Maya kings with visions of the underworld. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Tlaloc we already know. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. 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. 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. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. Well, not all of them, but some do. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. 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. For you meant Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him be. Promise of Quetzalcoatl, the god of war universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas, is! Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be creator. 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