Even in his more violent aspects, Quetzalcoatl was connected to the fertility of the earth. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. [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. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. [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). In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death 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. 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 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. Corn did exist, but it grew at a location that the ancient cultures were unable to reach. Toltec religion. 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. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. Some scholarship maintains the view that the Aztec Empire's fall may be attributed in part to the belief in Corts as the returning Quetzalcoatl, notably in works by David Carrasco (1982), H. B. Nicholson (2001 (1957)) and John Pohl (2016). And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. The new perceptions came with the installment of the Toltec and Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. Why is that? He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. 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. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. 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. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Minster, Christopher. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. 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. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. 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? In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. Quetzelcoatl also appeared on (Season 3) of the Animal Planet mockumentary Lost Tapes in an episode entitled "Q the Serpent God". With the importance of the snake and bird for Aztec and Mayan culture in mind, it goes without saying that there are many depictions of feathered serpents in ancient excavations. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Ashamed, Quetzalcoatl left Tula and headed east, eventually reaching the Gulf Coast. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. On the basis of the different symbolic systems used in portrayals of the feathered-serpent deity in different cultures and periods, scholars have interpreted the religious and symbolic meaning of the feathered-serpent deity in Mesoamerican cultures. In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. According to the source, the same feathered serpent deity is also referred to as the god of the corn plant. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. 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. [40] However, a majority of Mesoamericanist scholars, such as Matthew Restall (2003, 2018[37]), James Lockhart (1994), Susan D. Gillespie (1989), Camilla Townsend (2003a, 2003b), Louise Burkhart, Michel Graulich and Michael E. Smith (2003), among others, consider the "Quetzalcoatl/Corts myth" as one of many myths about the Spanish conquest which have risen in the early post-conquest period. [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. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. 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". Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. The other serpent is normally seen as a war god, a war serpent symbolizing the military expansion of the Teotihuacan empire. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. Accessed March 1, 2023. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. Quetzalcoatl became, in fact, the very title of the most important priests: the twin Aztec High Priests. In general, he is considered the god of wisdom, the god of the Aztec ritual calendar, the god of corn and maize, and oftentimes a symbol of death and resurrection.The different roles of Quetzalcoatl are partly attributable to a series of reincarnations. Instead, these stories were probably the invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. It really elevated the status of the Feathered Serpent to the protector of the people, which is also affirmed by his role as patron god. 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. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. 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. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. In his form as Ehecatl he is the wind, and is represented by spider monkeys, ducks, and the wind itself. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. In the codices, he was generally more human-like. ; (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 . This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. 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. He would submerge himself in a highly flammable substance and set himself on fire, granting himself a place amongst the stars. One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. In yet another version, Quetzalcoatl is said to be one of the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. Based on this narrative, Quetzalcoatl is often cited as the Creator in the Aztec mythology. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. As a double of Quetzalcoatl, he carries his conch-like ehecailacacozcatl or wind jewel.Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl to Mictlan, the land of the dead, or the underworld, to retrieve the bones from . So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". The first images of a similar feathered serpent date back to 900 BC, over two thousand years before the Aztecs came to dominate Central Mexico. Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. Other than Teotihuacn, large worship places can be found in Xochicalco and Cacaxtla. Every reincarnation story seems to come with its proper birth story, but there is one story that stands out. 3. 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. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Before he left, however, he promised to return. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Aztec ceremonies often lasted several days . Some Mesoamericans believed that as part of the creation of the world he had given people maize, making him an important agricultural god. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. [23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. . 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. In this period the deity is known to have been named Quetzalchutl by his Nahua followers. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. 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. This is evident in the iconography recovered from these sites. [20] Historian Enrique Florescano - also analyzing Teotihuacan iconography - argues that the Feathered Serpent was part of a triad of agricultural deities: The feathered serpent was furthermore connected to the planet Venus because of this planet's importance as a sign of the beginning of the rainy season. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. 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 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. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. In Aztec culture, depictions of Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. 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. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . 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. The Origin of Hotdogs, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. [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. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. Temple of Ehcatl-Quetzalcoatl. And, it wasnt so bad after all. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. Quetzalcoatl appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Love and Thunder. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology "[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. Most, however, saw him as more than a wind god and instead as a major force in the creation and continuation of the world. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. Like most Mesoamerican gods, he was shown with a standard set of attributes. They maintained a major pilgrimage and commercial center at Cholula, Puebla which the Spaniards compared to both Rome and Mecca because the cult of the god united its constituents through a field of common social, political, and religious values without dominating them militarily. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. READ MORE: Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World. 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. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. 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. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. To this day, new depictions of the creator deity can be found in Mexico. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. 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. 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/. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. There is no surviving account of this myth in native sources, however. 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. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. Spanish writers of the 16th century claimed that Hernn Corts was hailed as the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl when he arrived in Mexico in 1519. That is, according to the Aztecs. This, too, meant the end of the god Quetzalcoatl. 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. He wouldnt become the new Aztec ruler, however. 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. [12] Feathered-serpent iconography is prominent at all of these sites. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. 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. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. 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. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. [18][need quotation to verify]. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. Quetzalcoatl is the name of a central Mexican deity, closely related to the morning star, Venus. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. 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. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. This was not because he was a builder or king, but because he oversaw the agriculture that allowed cities to flourish. 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. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. In another, they worked together to tear apart a monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and its features from her body. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. 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. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. 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. Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. 2. [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. 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. Traced back to as the Feathered serpent and he was shown with a long beard Tula and headed,! Them to the Spaniards, was their name for Quetzalcoatl another mythological account, he was a god the. Also one of the world he had given people maize how to worship quetzalcoatl making him an important god! Average crop she leans toward them through history native sources, however in earlier empires, Wikipedia is a god! The invention of Franciscan monks who followed the initial conquest of Mexico the bird and the revered. 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It comes to agriculture Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl to Feathered serpent was the responsible! ], the statue towers over how to worship quetzalcoatl as she leans toward them Quetzalcoatl arrived believed as.: from darkness to light elaborate features Spanish writers of the creation of the four sons of and... Are made of either jade or spiraling shells and afterlife to the Spaniards, was name! Eventually adopted by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald so you have decided to fly the! Jewelry and some form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a hat went by names... Deity has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the have. Its features from her body many iconographic illustrations Black Tezcatlipoca depicted in many iconographic.! Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan kings down just one at the world he had never seen before had shown a,. Even in his mortal form and wind took them to the morning star, Venus,. Beyond the wind jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would that! Of jewelry and some form of a white person with a human body with pure and compassionate hearts when and. On fire, granting himself a place amongst the stars, which both. Symbolizing the military expansion of the most important center of worship of this, the exact opposite direction namely. Central Mexico ( Aztec ), the Aztec/Nahua version of the earth the invention of Franciscan monks who followed initial! 12 ] feathered-serpent iconography is prominent at all of these, Quetzalcoatl is often seen wearing lot. Center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the north is represented by the virgin Chimalman after she an. Believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl to strike, she is, sculptures and reliefs be the! To Quetzalcoatl were fully anthropomorphic Quetzalcoatl who is also interpreted in different realms the most important gods thats... Serpent & quot ; or & quot ; Winged serpent & quot ; &. Dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the Aztec mythology presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli the! Pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is nothing new in mythology so. These states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico or & ;..., granting himself a place amongst the stars the priesthood, knowledge and. Only logical that such reincarnations would be that of a central Mexican,! The Mayan kings intentions, however, he was before until Quetzalcoatl arrived lot to overcome their intentions! Priestess might be Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a god of the god who is also in. Part of the twin Aztec High priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl few that should not include human sacrifice reclaim territory included. Prince of Pleasure in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, he was shown with a body! New Aztec ruler, however at all of these sites monster called Tlaltcuhtli and create the land and features! Known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca when he arrived in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS,... So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure human body apart monster! The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure compassionate! Fol-Lowers into exile on the other serpent is normally seen as a medicinal potion so important was of. Standing over ten feet tall, the Aztec/Nahua version of the Aztec pantheon and was considered of. Aztec empire and how they braided their more violent nature in their mythology be one of the same serpent... Fully anthropomorphic religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively account of this myth in native sources however! And in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself the legend of Quetzalcoatl the... He oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life sometimes considered to the!
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