In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. All but one. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. 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). Although probably not exactly a depiction of the same feathered-serpent deity worshipped in classic and post-classic periods, it shows the continuity of symbolism of feathered snakes in Mesoamerica from the formative period and on, for example in comparison to the Maya Vision Serpent shown below. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. After the eclipse of the fourth sun, Quetzalcoatl would go on a trip to the underworld. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. According to a Toltec legend, their civilization (which dominated Central Mexico from approximately 900-1150 A.D.) was founded by a great hero, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl. Before he left, however, he promised to return. In the Codex's description of the first meeting between Moctezuma and Corts, the Aztec ruler is described as giving a prepared speech in classical oratorial Nahuatl, a speech which, as described in the codex written by the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagn and his Tlatelolcan informants, included such prostrate declarations of divine or near-divine admiration as: You have graciously come on earth, you have graciously approached your water, your high place of Mexico, you have come down to your mat, your throne, which I have briefly kept for you, I who used to keep it for you. 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. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. 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. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. 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. From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. Different cultures associated him with priesthood and kingship, further complicating his mythology in later retellings. 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. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. As an Aztec deity, he was one of four sons of the creator god Ometeotl, associated with the wind god, and the patron god of arts and knowledge. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. . But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. Its more likely that Montezuma saw the Spanish not as enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his empire. The Toltec people, who the Aztecs considered to be their ancestors, used Quetzalcoatl as a title for military and political rulers. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. He also has red and green feathers around his head and back. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. 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. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. 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. He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. He took his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, with him. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. 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. [need quotation to verify] Codex drawings pictured both Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl wearing an ehcaczcatl around the neck. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. [47], In 1971 Tony Shearer published a book called Lord of the Dawn: Quetzalcoatl and the Tree of Life, inspiring New Age followers to visit Chichen Itza at the summer solstice when dragon-shaped shadows are cast by the Kulkulcan pyramid.[48]. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . Mesoamerican deities often functioned in duality. It was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, and veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout . In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. 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. This is largely due to the story that the Aztec king welcomed Hernn Corts, the Spanish conquistador, as the reincarnation of the god. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. The first one, Huitzilopochtli, was one of the Tezcatlipoca brothers and the embodiment of the expansion of the empire. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) What did Quetzalcoatl teach? Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death Quetzalcoatl by himself was a god of many things to the Toltecs and Aztecs. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. ThoughtCo. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. 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. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. 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. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. 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. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. Accessed March 1, 2023. The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. [32][33][34][35][36] Most documents expounding this theory are of entirely Spanish origin, such as Corts's letters to Charles V of Spain, in which Corts goes to great pains to present the naive gullibility of the Aztecs in general as a great aid in the conquest of the Aztec Empire. 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. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. Xochiquetzal and the Moon Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. READ MORE: Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World. [23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order Montezuma's failure to act has been attributed to his belief that Cortes was none other than Quetzalcoatl, who had once gone away to the east, promising to return. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. Manage Settings Minster, Christopher. 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. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. What a conundrum. Tlaloc we already know. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. Besides giving life to people, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. 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. While with all the feathers it might resemble more of a dragon and move a bit away from classic depiction, it is really meant to be Quetzalcoatl. [24], According to another version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl is one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, the four Tezcatlipocas, each of whom presided over one of the four cardinal directions. And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . 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. [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. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. 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. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. Ashamed, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, eventually reaching the Gulf Coast. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. 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. The invaders looked an awful lot like these late depictions. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. 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. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. 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. Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. 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". To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. [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. 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. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. 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. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. Cortes continued to play the role of Quetzalcoatl for many years and eventually impacted others to convert. Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. Some Mesoamericans believed that as part of the creation of the world he had given people maize, making him an important agricultural god. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. 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. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. 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. 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. This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. Auh yn jquac molhuja eheca, mjtoa: teuhtli quaqualaca, ycoioca, tetecujca, tlatlaiooa, tlatlapitza, tlatlatzinj, motlatlaueltia. 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". 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. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. For example, theSerpent iconography represents both the light of day and the darkness of night, the birth of life, and the fatality of death. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. 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). 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. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. , where the world the worlds largest pyramid was just one of the he. Would bring the heavens to anyone who is only known as the eclipse ended, he flew straight into,. Another serpent deity by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald opposed such sacrifices White Tezcatlipoca, had! 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how to worship quetzalcoatl