Among the Aztecs, the name Quetzalcoatl was also a priestly title, as the two most important priests of the Aztec Templo Mayor were called "Quetzalcoatl Tlamacazqui". Well, not all of them, but some do. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? 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. 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. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. He is a former head writer at VIVA Travel Guides. The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. At temples such as the aptly named "Quetzalcoatl temple" in the Ciudadela complex, feathered serpents figure prominently and alternate with a different kind of serpent head. Indeed, the same as the one from the Great Pyramid. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. 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"). [12] Feathered-serpent iconography is prominent at all of these sites. 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 association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. Some followers of the Latter Day Saints movement believe that Quetzalcoatl was historically Jesus Christ, who Latter-day Saints believe visited the New World as a resurrected being as reported in the Book of Mormon, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. Kukulkan In the Mayan culture, this name was used by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. 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. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. He took his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, with him. Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. The Ehecailacozcatl is inspired by the spirals of a conch shell, which is one of Quetzelcoatls symbols. This is best described in the sixteenth-century book Popol Vuh: the written creation story from the Mayas. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. In an example from Yaxchilan, the Vision Serpent has the human face of the young maize-god, further suggesting a connection to fertility and vegetational renewal; the Maya Young Maize god was also connected to Venus. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. It is said that he is called the god of wind, spirit of rain, the god of culture, and the . Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. ThoughtCo. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. 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 earliest depictions of the feathered serpent deity were fully zoomorphic, depicting the serpent as an actual snake, but already among the Classic Maya, images of the deity began acquiring human features, such as the beard (see the Borgia codex illustration above) that he was sometimes depicted with. 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? Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". And, it wasnt so bad after all. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). [30], He is also attributed with having brought the cacao plant from a sacred mountain to the Toltec people, teaching the women how to make traditional drinking chocolate.[31]. Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. According to the Book of Mormon, the resurrected Jesus Christ descended from heaven and visited the people of the American continent, shortly after his resurrection. As a double of Quetzalcoatl, he carries his conch-like ehecailacacozcatl or wind jewel.Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl to Mictlan, the land of the dead, or the underworld, to retrieve the bones from . As a wind god, he was also responsible for making the rain fall. There, they greatly influenced late Mayan culture. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. 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. Human worship. . 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 meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice.. Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also the names of historical persons.. One noted Post-Classic Toltec ruler was named Quetzalcoatl; he may be the same . That is, according to the Aztecs. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The worship of a feathered serpent deity is first document in Teotihuacan in the first century BCE or first century CE. 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. 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. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. 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. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. The Name Quetzalcoatl We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. The east is represented by Xipe Totec who is the Red Tezcatlipoca and the god of gold and farming. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. 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. 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. There was one way that would certainly work, namely by letting it rain so abundantly that the snake simply drifted out of the cave. 3. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. Tlaloc we already know. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Or rather, arrived again. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. 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". Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. 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". Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. Spanish writers of the 16th century claimed that Hernn Corts was hailed as the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl when he arrived in Mexico in 1519. Mason-Dixon Line Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. [citation needed] Additionally, at least one major cache of offerings includes knives and idols adorned with the symbols of more than one god, some of which were adorned with wind jewels. 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. [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). And when the wind rose, when the dust rumbled, and it crack and there was a great din, became it became dark and the wind blew in many directions, and it thundered; then it was said: [Quetzalcoatl] is wrathful., -Bernadino de Sahagn, Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec version of this plumed snake archetype. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. 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. Mictlanteuctli and Mictlancihuatl, the two gods that ruled that realm, gave him a puzzle he was expected to complete before he could take the bones. 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