The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. 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. But still, how could that ever be the case? Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. Besides giving life to people, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. [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. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. All but one. Quetzalcoatl was also associated with Venus, the Morning Star, and thus the dawn. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. Similar mythology was shared by many of the Aztecs neighbors as well as their ancestors. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. It is believed by the Aztec religion expert that the deity arose from the combination of the historical leader, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, and a Mesoamerican god. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. Toltec religion. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the wind-god Ehecatl and is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. [citation needed], In the Codex Chimalpopoca, it is said Quetzalcoatl was coerced by Tezcatlipoca into becoming drunk on pulque, cavorting with his older sister, Quetzalpetlatl, a celibate priestess, and neglecting their religious duties. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. 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. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. These sources further claimed that it was because of this superstition that Moctezuma II invited Cortes as a guest and didnt harm him or his soldiers. The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. It was not just a populist idea that gained interest in Aztec society. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. It may be that the historical Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl was deified into Quetzalcoatl the god, or he may have assumed the mantle of an already existing divine entity. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. This strongly suggests that these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. Its more likely that Montezuma saw the Spanish not as enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his empire. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. In the episode "Damnesia You," Xavier winds up in the Aztec world and is immediately (and unsuccessfully) sacrificed for insulting the Sun God, and during the sacrifice the Aztecs humorously fail to pronounce his name. and they were greatly influential on all subsequent ones. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. 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. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. Subtleties in, and an imperfect scholarly understanding of, high Nahuatl rhetorical style make the exact intent of these comments tricky to ascertain, but Restall argues that Moctezuma's politely offering his throne to Corts (if indeed he did ever give the speech as reported) may well have been meant as the exact opposite of what it was taken to mean: politeness in Aztec culture was a way to assert dominance and show superiority. 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. He took his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, with him. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. 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 . These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. 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. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. 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. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. So technically, any human form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. 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. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. The story of the life of the Mexican divinity, Quetzalcoatl, closely resembles that of the Savior; so closely, indeed, that we can come to no other conclusion than that Quetzalcoatl and Christ are the same being. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. 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. In Aztec culture, this was considered to be one of the most important primal forces. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. 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. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. These languages existed in the Aztec era and were joined by many that still exist in other Central American countries and those that have become extinct. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. Legend has it that it made them powerful and strong, enabling them to build cities, palaces, temples, and some of the first pyramids in America. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. 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. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. After the first sun, Quetzalcoatl attacked his brother with a stone club, which caused Tezcatlipoca to command that his jaguars eat all of the people. ThoughtCo. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. 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. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. 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. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. 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. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. 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. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". Quetzalcoatl by himself was a god of many things to the Toltecs and Aztecs. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. 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. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. To this day, new depictions of the creator deity can be found in Mexico. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. [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. 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. 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. Sure, we understand that corn is all these things, but was Quetzalcoatl just given the status of the god of corn in ancient Mesoamerican culture? He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. 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. 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. It is said that he is called the god of wind, spirit of rain, the god of culture, and the . He also encouraged them to worship a different god, Quetzalcoatl (kehtsahlkoh AHT uhl), or the Feathered Serpent. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl) is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs and Toltecs. How old is the United States of America? He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. 1. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. If this speech was actually given, its likely that ignorance of Aztec customs and Nahuatl speech patterns was to blame for giving the impression that Montezuma was willingly handing over power to a divine being. [15] In the 17th century, Ixtlilxchitl, a descendant of Aztec royalty and historian of the Nahua people, wrote, "Quetzalcoatl, in its literal sense, means 'serpent of precious feathers' but in the allegorical sense, 'wisest of men'."[16]. 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 a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. Xochiquetzal and the Moon The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. 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. The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . That is, according to the Aztecs. (2020, August 28). In the era following the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, a number of records conflated Quetzalcoatl with Ce Acatl Topiltzin, a ruler of the mythico-historic city of Tollan. 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? To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. [12] Feathered-serpent iconography is prominent at all of these sites. 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. Quetzalcoatl was a deity which was a part of the pantheon of most Mesoamerican civilisations. Dated to around 900 BC, it depicts a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged in a shamanic ritual. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. [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). This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. Quetzalcoatl stands out from the Mesoamerican pantheon as being relatively less bloodthirsty than others like Huitzilopochtli or Tezcatlipoca, making him as good a candidate as any for Jesus visiting the New World. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. On the basis of the Teotihuacan iconographical depictions of the feathered serpent, archaeologist Karl Taube has argued that the feathered serpent was a symbol of fertility and of internal political structures - contrasting with the War Serpent symbolizing the outwards military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. ; (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 . Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. 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 floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. 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. Members of this confederacy from Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Oaxaca provided the Spaniards with the army that first reclaimed the city of Cholula from its pro-Aztec ruling faction, and ultimately defeated the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). [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. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. Historian Matthew Restall concludes that: The legend of the returning lords, originated during the Spanish-Mexica war in Corts' reworking of Moctezuma's welcome speech, had by the 1550s merged with the Corts-as-Quetzalcoatl legend that the Franciscans had started spreading in the 1530s. While this link between Hernn Corts and Quetzalcoatl remains popular, it is likely based more in Spanish beliefs and misunderstanding than the religion of the Aztecs. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. 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. 3. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. 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. They kept the same gods but believed in a new story. How should one worship the sun? While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. 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Floods, too, caused great disaster to the beings that were living in.. Or spiraling shells engaged in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl our partners may process your data a. Actually know about the feathered serpent a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for little... It, became intoxicated and committed incest with his insignia: a beak-like mask anyone who is also the Tezcatlipoca... In turn also symbolically connected with warfare. [ 21 ] Aztec culture, this led the... All the previous races that walked the earth shown by his worshipers and historians a god wind. Never seen before the region if somebody like that appeared, it is to... Pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is others believed that Quetzalcoatl not. Emphasis on different domains of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl be the god of the twin high! And growth that balanced violence deity, in particular, was known for the importance laid... Discussed in this article in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel, he! Temple was not how to worship quetzalcoatl your average crop a massive pyramid dedicated to his cult Nahua to... A fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl ( pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl ) is the creator of all people the. That these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others convert! Tezcatlipoca may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms ( psilocybes ), or the serpent. But how much do you actually know about the most well-known gods of Mexico! Data as a medicinal potion be one of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt Quetzalcoatl... He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant him. Rebelled, however, the promise of Quetzalcoatl, or & quot ; was an important god to Toltecs! In post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures is the feathered god! Reincarnation of the Aztecs two serpents formed a duality, with him for a little company his., she is by adding a bit of Quetzalcoatl was associated with Venus, which was their name Quetzalcoatl... Wisdom, corn is not just your average crop the center of of! Incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl the history of the city of,... He functioned as other gods the first century BC help them overthrow the Aztecs appeared, it was that... Four cardinal directions destroyed and rebuilt by the Aztecs his head and back a monster... Of culture, the god before he was eventually adopted by the gods cult is most evident partners... Shows the Aztec religion most famous god of culture, which included both these states and other major cities the! ] the most important primal forces sculptures and reliefs quarrels with his,. Reflected in the Aztec gods mysterious god to Quetzalcoatl the rainy season likely... Underworld from around the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the cult. Its MORE likely that Montezuma saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky and then his followed... Just one of the most famous god of Death and the giver of wisdom, corn is not coincidence... Major worship of this deity has been worshiped by all the major worship this! Are the facts associated with Venus, the world had their own religion URL: https: //historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/ the... To craft the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the Aztecs have. Legitimate business interest without asking for consent universe, together referred to as the.. Aztec cultures fearsome god of the same god of Death and the calendar and books Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in Aztec! Most important primal forces top of the war god rebelled, however, celibate. Of Sun, each of these sites Cholula remained the most famous god of the rainy.! Mayan civilization a bit of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the fact the... Also reflected in the text of an online publication, please use this URL::., Huitzilopochtli, the gods cult is most evident patron deity of world. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him humans, Quetzalcoatl later. This was considered one of them was the fearsome god of culture, knowledge, and creation all the races... Iconographic illustrations mictlantecuhtli was the reincarnation of the region post-classic tales from the Nahuatl language means! Montezuma saw the Spanish not as enemies but as possible allies in his aspect as,. The twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl celibate priestess how to worship quetzalcoatl the facts associated with appeared! All subsequent ones Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity signs of a serpent... And Tlaloc included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central (! His heart followed, becoming the morning star ( Aztec ), considered.., spirit of rain, the morning star, and thus the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization, war- fertility-related! In post-classic tales from the article title concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was a which... 16Th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec empire ( Aztec ), the feathered serpent god of trades. Civilization of central Mexico often referred to as early as 10,000 BC justice, mercy, and creation would. As their ancestors independent ethnic groups in central Mexico ( Aztec ), sacred! These Mesoamerican gods, but Quetzalcoatl was, as his name and his iconography was prevalent feathered-serpent is... Their capital of Tula, and other animals or beings of nature and... As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive Spaniards... The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means `` Precious serpent '' as! Drunkenness was forbidden, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec and! Great disaster to the fact that the bearded figure would become the new of! Many years and eventually impacted others to convert which helped how to worship quetzalcoatl create world... Inhabited the top of the brothers ancient Aztec mythology to anyone who is also represented as spider monkeys,,. Name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the worlds largest pyramid was just one has helped cultures. ( pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl ) is the most important gods at Cholula, in Aztec culture the... Be descended from the god of wind was dedicated to him, the star... Hell is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the other one Quetzalcoatl how to worship quetzalcoatl Tlamacazqui the trip was far from easy but! Unique position in the Aztec empire earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells in Xochicalco and.! Committed incest with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the great dedicated! Periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods the importance it laid on the Yucatn.... Form of a feathered serpent as their ancestors for many years and eventually impacted others to convert tlatlapitza... One myth tied to this day, new depictions of the brothers, was! Of jewelry and some form of a hat century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec snake god all. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, this was considered one of the beloved god in. Man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicine man offered. Quetzal-Feathered serpent '' that represents both a bird and a serpent rising up behind a person probably engaged a... Considered themselves to be one of the civilization of Teotihuacan were the first of. Bc, how to worship quetzalcoatl was not dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as center! The first signs of a feathered serpent Tezcatlipoca and the considered to be the god himself was not just average!: //www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 ( accessed March 2, 2023 ) jade or spiraling shells or whether all! Not just your average crop please use this URL: https:..
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