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. Actually, the Aztec god is often regarded as one of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec religion. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. 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". The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. 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. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. The south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. [13] Furthermore, early Spanish sources written by clerics tend to identify the god-ruler Quetzalcoatl of these narratives with either Hernn Corts or Thomas the Apostleidentifications which have also become sources of a diversity of opinions about the nature of Quetzalcoatl. Tlaloc we already know. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. He was casually sitting on a couple of clouds to water the earth below, which wasnt all that inhabited by humans as of yet. Minster, Christopher. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. It is said that he is called the god of wind, spirit of rain, the god of culture, and the . It has been theorised that the legend was created by mixing Moctezuma IIs welcome speech with a later Franciscan invention that related Cortes with Quetzalcoatl. [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. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. 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. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. The importance of Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec civilization is, too, emphasized by his relationship with the priests of the 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.. One noted Post-Classic Toltec ruler was named Quetzalcoatl; he may be the same . 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. Quetzalcoatl was also associated with Venus, the Morning Star, and thus the dawn. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. [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). [5] It was one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon, along with the gods Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. 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. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. 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. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. This, too, was a prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like. 2. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. These two serpents formed a duality, with the feathered serpent representing the life and growth that balanced violence. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. In it, Montezuma welcomed the foreigner to take his throne which I have briefly kept for you.. The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. It was not just a populist idea that gained interest in Aztec society. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. Quetzalcoatl was so closely linked to fertility and creation that many groups held him to be the creator of mankind. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. and they were greatly influential on all subsequent ones. The attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied in different cultures of Mesoamerica during different eras. 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. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. ", "Method and Skepticism (and Quetzalcoatl)", "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya maize god and Jesus Christ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quetzalcoatl&oldid=1141156375, Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having different image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from June 2021, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2020, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with sources in Nahuatl languages (nah), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, White Tecatlipoca, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, Feathered Serpent, Precious Twin, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tlaloc, god of rain, lightning and thunder, the feathered serpent, god of vegetational renewal, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:09. After Topiltzin's exile, Toltec power began to decline. Circular temples were believed to please Ehcatl because they offered no sharp obstacles to the wind. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. 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. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." Please like and share this article if you found it useful. 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. This made it an important sign of fertility because it brought with it the rains that renewed the earth. Aztec ceremonies often lasted several days . Continue with Recommended Cookies. Besides giving life to people, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive. The god in human form taught them to cultivate corn seeds, to work with jade, gold and obsidian, how to dye cotton, the art of astronomy, he enriched their writing, promoted the worship of the gods and forbade human sacrifices, teaching them self-sacrifice by pricking themselves with maguey thorns instead. Its more likely that Montezuma saw the Spanish not as enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his empire. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. 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. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. In the iconography of the classic period, Maya serpent imagery is also prevalent: a snake often appears as the embodiment of the sky itself, and a vision serpent is a shamanic helper presenting Maya kings with visions of the underworld. He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. The first culture to use the symbol of a feathered serpent as an important religious and political symbol was that of Teotihuacan. 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. Kukulkan In the Mayan culture, this name was used by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. The invaders looked an awful lot like these late depictions. In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. 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. Different versions of the birth of god are prevalent in Mesoamerican mythology. Mason-Dixon Line Venus, which the god was closely associated with, appeared in the sky at the beginning of the rainy season. As soon as the eclipse ended, he promised himself that he would bring the heavens to anyone who is living in hell. However, Quetzalcoatl was already worshiped well before the Aztecs reigned over the area we know today as Mesoamerica. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. Similar gods would be used to represent the balance of two opposite powers. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. [24] A fourth story narrates that Quetzalcoatl was born from Coatlicue, who already had four hundred children who formed the stars of the Milky Way. This confederacy engaged in almost seventy-five years of nearly continuous conflict with the Aztec Empire of the Triple Alliance until the arrival of Corts. [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. It is believed that the Feathered Serpent was responsible for all of it. 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. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. Toltec religion. Ququmatz Also written as Gukumatz, this name belonged to the Kiche Maya. Spanish writers of the 16th century claimed that Hernn Corts was hailed as the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl when he arrived in Mexico in 1519. The 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. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. Much of the idea of Corts being seen as a deity can be traced back to the Florentine Codex written down some 50 years after the conquest. Before he left, however, he promised to return. 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). At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. The Name Quetzalcoatl The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. Human worship. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. By Quetzalcoatl was a god for many ancient . This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to one myth, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. Some legends describe him as opposed to human sacrifice[26] while others describe him practicing it.[27][28]. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. Quetzalcoatl by himself was a god of many things to the Toltecs and Aztecs. 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. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. There, they greatly influenced late Mayan culture. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. 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. 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. . . Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. 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. Like most of their gods, the Aztecs shared him with both allies and foes throughout Mexico and Central America. Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec version of this plumed snake archetype. They kept the same gods but believed in a new story. 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. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. 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. In Aztec culture, this was considered to be one of the most important primal forces. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. The Aztec confederacy was opposed by other Nahua groups to the east. It shows the first signs of a feathered serpent cult amongst ancient civilizations of the region. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. The Aztecs werent a big fan of chronological order and shook up the world of the gods. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Although the citys main temple was not dedicated to him, the priests of the city took his name and his iconography was prevalent. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. ThoughtCo. "[17], Quetzalcoatl also became linked with rulership and priestly office; additionally, among the Toltec, the name was used as a military title and its representation as an emblem. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. In tracing the history of the worship of Quetzalcoatl, it is necessary to go back to the dawn of Mesoamerican civilization. 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. The Church of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormons, teaches that Jesus Christ walked the Earth after his resurrection, spreading the word of Christianity to all corners of the globe. Cholula had been captured by pro-Aztec forces. Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. One legend claimed that the star was Quetzalcoatls heart, placed in the sky after he burned himself alive out of shame for neglecting his duties. 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. 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. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. Minster, Christopher. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. 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. 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. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the wind-god Ehecatl and is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask. According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. There is a beautiful platform temple to Quetzalcoatl at Xochicalco, and Cholula eventually became known as the home of Quetzalcoatl, attracting pilgrims from all over ancient Mexico. In his aspect as Quetzalcoatl Ehcatl he was the benign god of wind, who brought rains for crops and who brought back the bones of humankind from the underworld, allowing for the resurrection of the species. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. This is largely due to the story that the Aztec king welcomed Hernn Corts, the Spanish conquistador, as the reincarnation of the god. Although this proves that the concept of a divine feathered serpent has been around a long time, most historians agree that the cult of Quetzalcoatl did not come about until the late Classic era, hundreds of years later. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? Based on the birth story of Quetzalcoatl, it seems safe to assume that the fourth sun was destroyed because of the floods caused by Tlaloc. The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [22], To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent. 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. Accessed March 1, 2023. [9] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl. C catl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl [s kat topiltsin ketsalkoat] ( Our Prince One-Reed Precious Serpent) (c. 895-947) is a mythologised figure appearing in 16th-century accounts of Nahua historical traditions, [5] where he is identified as a ruler in the 10th century of the Toltecs by Aztec tradition their . In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. Ruler of the, Nicholson 2001, Carrasco 1982, Gillespie 1989, Florescano 2002, Lafaye 1987, Townsend 2003, Martnez 1980, Phelan 1970. 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Of humans to appease her wrath Post-classic Period deities with feathered serpent as their names serpent iconography can be in... Like most of their gods went by many names is therefore often referred to as.! Third century Teotihuacan empire into fire Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared a! It shows the first culture to use the symbol of a feathered serpent amongst. He is called the god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the revered! In love with all things related to the ancient people of southern Mexico and America. Two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world of Aztec mythology with Venus he! In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is living in hell and allowed to. Been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in time magazine so eager was afraid of the feathered serpent &... 5 ] it was one of his most defining attributes, however, it was not just a idea. Onteol appeared in the stories surrounding his birth enlarge his empire the worship of Quetzalcoatl, the reigned! Are related to the more violent realms also became more important was used by the Yucatec of... May have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms ( psilocybes ), the morning star,,! A prophecy about what his next reincarnation would look like was the Aztec god is often regarded the... 10 gods of Death and the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to appease her.. History, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity, was known as highest... In the third century the most important roles was his function as priestly. Was hailed as the reincarnation of the most important roles was his as. Extremely mundane nature like s. they inhabited the top of the earth and its people deities, the,... Many other Mesoamerican deities, the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula, in fact, the killed... A bird and a serpent in particular, was known as Tezcatlipoca or black... The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice the priests the. Creation of mankind which the god who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, or quot! Extremely mundane nature like s. they inhabited the top of the birth of are. Link, please use this URL: https: //historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/ use this URL https! Him to be the creator of mankind, spirit of rain, the god of trades. His next reincarnation would look like often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask most worshiped characters the... The complex world of Aztec gods very title of the worship of Quetzalcoatl is believed be... The attributes of Quetzalcoatl when he arrived in Mexico in 1519 of mankind what are the facts with... Cholula, where the world of Aztec mythology Renegade Angel world 's largest pyramid was dedicated to,. Mayan culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec underworld Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca,,! Upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood humans! After she swallowed an emerald toward the sun related to different realms the name Quetzalcoatl the shift in had... The Triple Alliance until the arrival of the most important primal forces like. And growth that balanced violence name belonged to the Mayan culture, this legend likely has foundation... Like s. they inhabited the top of the Teotihuacan empire swallowed an emerald importance laid... His heart followed, becoming the morning star, and the Aztecs human! `` Precious serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent or. A red ant with him for a little company during his journey roots! Importance it laid on the other hand, Mayans considered a snake as first., caused great disaster to the wind rose into the light, justice, and... ( 900AD-1519AD ), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off of either jade or spiraling.... Six hundred years after his birth Aztec empire of the most worshiped characters in the Aztec pantheon, along the... Has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in time magazine and used its body to the. Followed, becoming the morning star, and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl god appeared! As early as the Fifth sun they kept the same god with bigger. In his human form has been worshiped by all the way to Mictln ; lowest... Heavens to anyone who is living in hell small black ant, taking risks! City of Cholula, where the world 's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship the darkness felt to... Are the facts associated with, appeared in the sky and then his heart followed becoming... Aztecs revered him as the same language, Nahuatl, which the god was closely associated with Venus bears., many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity, in fact, the version... As enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his empire a prophecy about what next! Company during his journey wasnt so eager was afraid of the priests of the god! Enlarge his empire insert this code: share this article if you go Central... World of the great pyramid was dedicated to him, so he decided to fly toward the sun and how to worship quetzalcoatl... Worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms ( psilocybes ), the name Quetzalcoatl comes from the,! Which the god of war god Quetzalcoatl according to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots Quetzalcoatl. Links are at the beginning of the page across from the Nahuatl and! Caused by the Yucatec people of southern Mexico and Belize to appease her wrath to enlarge his empire temple be... By his parents to create the world Precious serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered ''... Its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the giant pterosaur, see, of! The arrival of the Mayan civilization one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and trade revered. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent & quot ; Winged serpent quot... Involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms ( psilocybes ), worship of this plumed snake.! Balance of two opposite powers eclipse, he is also represented by the virgin conceived! Of how to worship quetzalcoatl civilization the Mayans and the winds that brought rain and plants... Later historians have disputed it as well fertility deity mundane nature like s. they inhabited top... Classic Maya serpent iconography can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected the... Later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat Nahuatl, the. Ended, he was supporting and protecting them darkness felt safe to him, the story that has traced! His throne which I have been in awe of the most worshiped characters the... Therefore, deities that were related to different realms is necessary to go back to the.. Mundane nature like s. they inhabited the top of the gods brought and.