Rise early to appreciate the magnificence of her rising, and try to spend some time soaking up her warmth whenever you can. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. . Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl) is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs and Toltecs. His name means Plumed Serpent, referring specifically to the green quetzal birds native to Central America. 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. [23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. 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. 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. In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. [37] This speech, which has been widely referred to, has been a factor in the widespread belief that Moctezuma was addressing Corts as the returning god Quetzalcoatl. The famous Pyramid of the Niches at El Tajin is believed by many to be dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, and the many ball courts there also suggest that his cult was important. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. One day, Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a classic Mexican alcoholic beverage still served to this day. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. 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. 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. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Although little is known about the specific ways in which he was revered, some historians believe that the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms and other intoxicants may have played a large role. And, it wasnt so bad after all. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. [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. 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. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. 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 Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. In fact, the people of Mexico had killed several Spaniards in battle and had captured and sacrificed others, so they knew they were men, not gods. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. While the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. 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. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. 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". According to the source, the same feathered serpent deity is also referred to as the god of the corn plant. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. Plumed serpents continued to be depicted in Central American cultures. A 2012 exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Dallas Museum of Art, "The Children of the Plumed Serpent: the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico", demonstrated the existence of a powerful confederacy of Eastern Nahuas, Mixtecs and Zapotecs, along with the peoples they dominated throughout southern Mexico between 1200 and 1600 (Pohl, Fields, and Lyall 2012, Harvey 2012, Pohl 2003). Xochiquetzal and the Moon "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." The cult even spread down into the Maya lands. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. 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. 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. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. Or rather, arrived again. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. Mason-Dixon Line Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. [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. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. Evidence of such worship comes from the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently. . The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. The feathered serpent was a deity who was widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of time. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. 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. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. 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. What is often called the Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states, established in the 14th and 15th centuries. Ultimately during the Fifth Sun, Quetzalcoatl was successfully able to retrieve the human bones from the underworld Mictlan (guarded by the realm's ruler - Mictlantecuhtli) that were infused with his own blood and corn to once again 'regenerate' mankind. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. The Teotihuacan iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a version where Quetzalcoatl played the role of a fertility-related serpent deity. He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. This, too, can be seen in the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. 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. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. The worship of a feathered serpent deity is first document in Teotihuacan in the first century BCE or first century CE. 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. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. 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. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. 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. Corts himself claimed in a letter that the gullibility of the Aztec people helped him to conquer them. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. [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. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. How should one worship the sun? The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. The first culture to use the symbol of a feathered serpent as an important religious and political symbol was that of Teotihuacan. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. Before he left, however, he promised to return. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. ; (2) a god of the winds, the sun, and the planet Venus; (3) the cultural hero and expected "messiah" of the pre-Columbian Mexicans; and (4) a god-hero who served as patron of the arts . The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. Or, more appropriately, Abya Yala.Worship of Quetzalcoatl can be traced back to as early as the Teotihuacan civilization, a prominent urban center that peaked between the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. 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. He was casually sitting on a couple of clouds to water the earth below, which wasnt all that inhabited by humans as of yet. 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. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Spanish writers of the 16th century claimed that Hernn Corts was hailed as the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl when he arrived in Mexico in 1519. The Church of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormons, teaches that Jesus Christ walked the Earth after his resurrection, spreading the word of Christianity to all corners of the globe. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. 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. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. Other parties have also promulgated the idea that the Mesoamericans believed the conquistadors, and in particular Corts, to be awaited gods: most notably the historians of the Franciscan order such as Fray Gernimo de Mendieta. 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. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. The colonization of Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was worshiped. 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. 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. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. Worship of Quetzalcoatl can be traced back to as early as the Teotihuacan civilization, a prominent urban center that peaked between the 3rd to 8th centuries CE. What a conundrum. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). Human worship. Colonial documentary sources from the Maya area frequently speak of the arrival of foreigners from the central Mexican plateau, often led by a man whose name translates as "Feathered Serpent". His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. Tlaloc we already know. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. It was not just a populist idea that gained interest in Aztec society. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. There is a beautiful platform temple to Quetzalcoatl at Xochicalco, and Cholula eventually became known as the home of Quetzalcoatl, attracting pilgrims from all over ancient Mexico. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. 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. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. One legend claimed that the star was Quetzalcoatls heart, placed in the sky after he burned himself alive out of shame for neglecting his duties. 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. Some Franciscan monks claimed that the people of Mexico had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle who was said to have traveled beyond the Ganges to preach the gospel. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld 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 . Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. 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. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. A feathered serpent deity, therefore, synthesizes opposites, melting together the destructive and developing character of the earth, represented by the snake, with the fertile and rendering forces of the heavens, represented by the bird. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. During the epi-classic period, a dramatic spread of feathered serpent iconography is evidenced throughout Mesoamerica, and during this period images begin to figure prominently at sites such as Chichn Itz, El Tajn, and throughout the Maya area. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. Hernn Corts, perhaps the most notorious colonizer, is often identified as this very reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order 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. 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. You have graciously arrived, you have known pain, you have known weariness, now come on earth, take your rest, enter into your palace, rest your limbs; may our lords come on earth. 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? To the source, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that shown serpent! 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Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize defeat... Quetzalcoatls twin brother would coerce him into drinking pulque, a similar god worshipped!
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