Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. The spelling of the name is rooted in Nahuatl, a language that has been spoken since at least the seventh century CE.The first part comes from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, meaning precious green feather. The second part of his name, coatl, means serpent. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. 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. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. . 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. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. 5D's, Beyblade: Metal Fusion, Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia and Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (the latter two depicting Quetzalcoatl as a female dragon deity); the Megami Tensei video game franchise; the video games Fate/Grand Order, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy XV, Sanitarium, Smite (as an alternate costume for his Mayan counterpart, Kukulkan), and Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine; as the main antagonist in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth"; and in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel books. It 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. The importance of Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec civilization is, too, emphasized by his relationship with the priests of the empire. 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. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. Feathered serpents appear as early as 900 BC in parts of Mexico. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. A wide range of maize crops are still eaten to this date, both by the Mexicans that have adopted many of the European habits, and the remaining Indigenous peoples of central Mexico. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. Quetzalcoatl appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Love and Thunder. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. ; (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 . To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. This, too, meant the end of the god Quetzalcoatl. What is often called the Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states, established in the 14th and 15th centuries. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. 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. 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. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? . This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. However, at the end of the second cycle, mankind became like monkeys and so Quetzalcoatl blew up the whole of mankind. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. [5] It was one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon, along with the gods Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. 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? Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. 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. According to Toltec and Maya accounts, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl lived in Tula for a while before a dispute with the warrior class over human sacrifice led to his departure. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". The feathered serpent was a deity who was widely worshiped and persisted for a long period of time. 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. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . Continue with Recommended Cookies. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. He was known as the inventor of books and the calendar, the giver of maize (corn) to mankind, and sometimes as a symbol of death and resurrection. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. Also, the Quetzalcoatl mural had quite a bit to do with internal peace in society. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Maup van de Kerkhof, "Quetzalcoatl: The Feathered Serpent Deity of Ancient Mesoamerica", History Cooperative, February 13, 2023, https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. 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. 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 stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Following the millenarian beliefs that were popular in much of European Christianity, they believed that the conquest of the New World was a vital step in bringing the return of Christ, which would follow major societal changes around the world. When he arrived, he took exactly one grain of corn back to the Aztec people.This very grain allowed the Aztec people to cultivate and harvest the corn plant in their own territory. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Tlaloc we already know. [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. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. And, it wasnt so bad after all. Toltec religion. The Aztecs werent a big fan of chronological order and shook up the world of the gods. At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. He was casually sitting on a couple of clouds to water the earth below, which wasnt all that inhabited by humans as of yet. Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Quetzalcoatl is thus not only an Aztec god. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. 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. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. Hernan Cortes, who led the Spaniards, was first invited into the city by Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. There are three different ways you can cite this article. As a wind god, he was also responsible for making the rain fall. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. 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. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. 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. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. [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. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. 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. Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. Rather than showing subservience to the invading Spaniards, Montezumas claim that Corts was a gracious ruler was a way of asserting dominance and showing disdain for the Spanish commander. 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. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. Indeed, the same as the one from the Great Pyramid. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. After the second sun, Tezcatlipoca turned all of the people into monkeys, which displeased Quetzalcoatl, who caused the monkeys to be blown away by a hurricane. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). Minster, Christopher. But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. A lot of cultures such as the Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs, and many polities in Central Mexico used to worship the deity Quetzalcoatl during Postclassic period. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. The story of how the ordinary Quetzalcoatl became one of the heavenly brothers goes as followed. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. The archaeological record shows that after the fall of Teotihuacan that marked the beginning of the epi-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology around 600 AD, the cult of the feathered serpent spread to new religious and political centers in central Mexico, centers such as Xochicalco, Cacaxtla and Cholula. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. Since the sixteenth century, it has been widely held that the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II initially believed the landing of Hernn Corts in 1519 to be Quetzalcoatl's return. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. Before he left, however, he promised to return. 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