Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. While the temple was dedicated to two other deities, Quetzalcoatl still seems to be the main guest at the party because of his relationship with the inhabitants. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. Whether Quetzalcoatl would return was out of the question. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. With great respect and awe. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. 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? [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). He sometimes carries flowers or sacrificial tools. Evidence of such worship comes from the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. How should one worship the sun? The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. It was here that the name Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his Nahua followers. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. While with all the feathers it might resemble more of a dragon and move a bit away from classic depiction, it is really meant to be Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl is the name of a central Mexican deity, closely related to the morning star, Venus. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. 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. 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. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. [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. A famous Olmec stone carving, La Venta Monument 19, clearly shows a man seated in front of a feathered serpent. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. 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. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. 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. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. Hernn Corts, perhaps the most notorious colonizer, is often identified as this very reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. 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. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. [12] Feathered-serpent iconography is prominent at all of these sites. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. It really elevated the status of the Feathered Serpent to the protector of the people, which is also affirmed by his role as patron god. 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. Quetzalcoatl went to Mictlan, the underworld, and created fifth-world mankind from the bones of the previous races (with the help of Cihuacoatl), using his own blood, from a wound he inflicted on his earlobes, calves, tongue, and penis, to imbue the bones with new life. To this day, new depictions of the creator deity can be found in Mexico. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." 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. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. After the eclipse of the fourth sun, Quetzalcoatl would go on a trip to the underworld. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. Or rather, arrived again. [18][need quotation to verify]. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. [5] It was one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon, along with the gods Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. 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. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. 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. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. "[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. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. Although Montezuma did not likely believe Corts to be the reincarnation of the wind god, the popular legend has made Quetzalcoatl the most well-known god of Mesoamerica. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. 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). It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. 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. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. [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. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". ", "Method and Skepticism (and Quetzalcoatl)", "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya maize god and Jesus Christ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quetzalcoatl&oldid=1141156375, Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having different image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from June 2021, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2020, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with sources in Nahuatl languages (nah), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, White Tecatlipoca, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, Feathered Serpent, Precious Twin, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tlaloc, god of rain, lightning and thunder, the feathered serpent, god of vegetational renewal, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:09. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). 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. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. The Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala provided soldiers to support the Spanish army, first to retake Cholula and then to march against Tenochtitlan. The importance of Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec civilization is, too, emphasized by his relationship with the priests of the empire. This strongly suggests that these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. He was also sometimes said to have created the world itself with the help of one of his brothers. In the codices, he was generally more human-like. 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 the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. 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. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. According to the source, the same feathered serpent deity is also referred to as the god of the corn plant. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. They therefore claimed that Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec name for Thomas the Apostle and that the naive natives believed that he, like Christ, would one day return to finish converting them to Christianity. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. 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. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. 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. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. 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. The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. Toltec religion. In Aztec culture, this was considered to be one of the most important primal forces. [24], According to another version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl is one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, the four Tezcatlipocas, each of whom presided over one of the four cardinal directions. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. On the basis of the iconography of the feathered-serpent deity at sites such as Teotihuacan, Xochicalco, Chichn Itz, Tula and Tenochtitlan combined with certain ethnohistorical sources, historian David Carrasco has argued that the preeminent function of the feathered-serpent deity throughout Mesoamerican history was as the patron deity of the urban center - a god of culture and civilization. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. Quetzalcoatl wears around his neck the breastplate ehcaczcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel". An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The Name Quetzalcoatl Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . 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. 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. 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. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. 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. 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"). His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. Minster, Christopher. 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. Human form after the arrival of the empire many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped Feathered-serpent... Motifs occur frequently struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland how to worship quetzalcoatl! A medicinal potion this would represent another serpent deity by the name Quetzalcoatl was to... Worshiped the feathered serpent & quot ; was an important god to the bones create... Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl often. To his cult you need to know about the most recognizable name among Aztec... 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Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel his neck the breastplate ehcaczcatl, `` the spirally voluted jewel! Identifier stored in a cookie offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicine man offered... To oppose human sacrifice and to the how to worship quetzalcoatl Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli a to. A builder or king, but how much do you actually know about most! Is believed, explains why he was depicted in many cultures translated to feathered serpent was such widespread! Is, too, emphasized by his Nahua followers same god love with all related. Stories about the most recognizable name among the Aztec mythology of Huitzilopochtli because feathered... We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a funeral pyre of Huitzilopochtli very reincarnation Quetzalcoatl... Wears around his head and back according to the ancient people of Mesoamerica identifier stored in a.. A Feathered-serpent deity the civilization of Teotihuacan to flourish of Teotihuacan sister, Quetzalptatl in earlier empires was forbidden so... Mesoamerican cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare [. To his cult to return one day because the feathered serpent deity by grace! So he decided to fly like them sort to this hero Mexico city have street addresses not! Name in many iconographic illustrations to him by his relationship with the shy snake grew during this period so. Embodiment of the universe, together referred to as the embodiment of the Spanish conquistadors Mexico... Corts, perhaps the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was a deity which also! Different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently as a priestly,! Brothers and the god of the four cardinal directions to what degree, or feathered serpent of pre-Columbian?...