He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. The east is represented by Xipe Totec who is the Red Tezcatlipoca and the god of gold and farming. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. However, Quetzalcoatl was already worshiped well before the Aztecs reigned over the area we know today as Mesoamerica. This confederacy engaged in almost seventy-five years of nearly continuous conflict with the Aztec Empire of the Triple Alliance until the arrival of Corts. 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? Welcome. The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. 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. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. 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. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. [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. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. 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. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. 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. Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. ThoughtCo. In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. Rather than showing subservience to the invading Spaniards, Montezumas claim that Corts was a gracious ruler was a way of asserting dominance and showing disdain for the Spanish commander. 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. Of course, the odd one out sparked the interest of Tlaloc. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. 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. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. 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. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. [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. 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 colonization of Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was worshiped. [43] In a 1986 paper for Sunstone, he noted that during the Spanish Conquest, the Native Americans and the Catholic priests who sympathized with them felt pressure to link Native American beliefs with Christianity, thus making the Native Americans seem more human and less savage. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. 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. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. Accessed March 1, 2023. In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. It is said that he is called the god of wind, spirit of rain, the god of culture, and the . ", "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. Rather than the conquistador himself being the wind god, however, it was that his army allowed the Puebla and their allies to reclaim the pyramid of Tlachihualtepetl, the center of Quezalcoatls cult. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. Tlaloc blew the snake into the air, to a point where he was higher than the birds. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. Minster, Christopher. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. 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. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). 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 Name Quetzalcoatl Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. Feathered serpents appear as early as 900 BC in parts of Mexico. Quetzalcoatl was also associated with Venus, the Morning Star, and thus the dawn. [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). [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. A wide range of maize crops are still eaten to this date, both by the Mexicans that have adopted many of the European habits, and the remaining Indigenous peoples of central Mexico. While the other snakes told him he would never be able to do so, the rain god Tlaloc had other plans. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. 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. It was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood. At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. The feathered serpent was a deity who was widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of time. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. The Tlaxcalteca, along with other city-states across the Plain of Puebla, then supplied the auxiliary and logistical support for the conquests of Guatemala and West Mexico while Mixtec and Zapotec caciques (Colonial indigenous rulers) gained monopolies in the overland transport of Manila galleon trade through Mexico, and formed highly lucrative relationships with the Dominican order in the new Spanish imperial world economic system that explains so much of the enduring legacy of indigenous life-ways that characterize southern Mexico and explain the popularity of the Quetzalcoatl legends that continued through the colonial period to the present day. In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. 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. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. The legend reports that Quetzalcoatl was a peaceful king and priest of Tollan, but he was deceived by Tezcatlipoca and his followers, who practiced human sacrifice and violence. Corts himself claimed in a letter that the gullibility of the Aztec people helped him to conquer them. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/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. The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. Ashamed, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, eventually reaching the Gulf Coast. Quetzalcoatl (/ktslkotl/[3]) [pron 1] is a deity in Aztec culture and literature. 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. 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. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. While the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. 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. 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 . The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. 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.. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. After the first four ages of man ended, the feathered serpent stole their bones from the Underworld and used his own blood to give them new life. Some Mesoamericans believed that as part of the creation of the world he had given people maize, making him an important agricultural god. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some Mormons believe that Quetzalcoatl, who was associated with the east, (which in turn was represented by the color white to the Aztecs), was white-skinned. [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. 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. Represented as the plumed serpent, Quetzalcoatl was also seen as manifest in the wind, one of the most powerful forces of nature; a text in the Nahuatl language captures this relationship: Quetzalcoatl; yn ehecatl ynteiacancauh yntlachpancauh in tlaloque, yn aoaque, yn qujqujiauhti. Kukulkan In the Mayan culture, this name was used by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize. Hernan Cortes, who led the Spaniards, was first invited into the city by Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. 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. The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. 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. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. After Topiltzin's exile, Toltec power began to decline. That is, according to the Aztecs. How should one worship the sun? Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. The first culture to use the symbol of a feathered serpent as an important religious and political symbol was that of Teotihuacan. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. 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. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. There are three different ways you can cite this article. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. 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. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. Mason-Dixon Line 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. 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