That is, according to the Aztecs. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. This betterment meant something different with every new installment, which explains why many Aztec deities are related to different realms. He would sit at a loom and weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him. In fact, he wanted to tempt him to come out into the light. 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. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. 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. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. 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. Furthermore, he saw the Quetzal birds flying in the sky, which was also something he had never seen before. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. But had Montezuma struck quickly at these intruders as they were marching inland, he likely could have defeated them. 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. Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. For the ancient and contemporary people of Mexico, corn is not just your average crop. The Teotihuacan iconographical depictions are often interpreted as a version where Quetzalcoatl played the role of a fertility-related serpent deity. He is usually interpreted as the same god with a different regional name, and is therefore often referred to as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. The Nahuatl nouns compounded into the proper name "Quetzalcoatl" are: (in English, Spanish, and Nahuatl languages), Proposed Book of Mormon geographical setting, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, "Evidence of Mushroom Worship in Mesoamerica", "New Taxonomical and Ethnomycological Observations on, "All You Need To Know About The Ancient Aztec Gods and Goddesses", "Readings in Classical Nahuatl: The Death of Quetzalcoatl", "Gift of the Gods: Chocolate in the Aztec Empire", "The Complete New York City Horror Movie Marathon! While the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. 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. However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. 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. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . 3. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. 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. 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. Often he is also represented as spider monkeys, ducks, and other animals or beings of nature. [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). 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. 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. As a wind god, he was also responsible for making the rain fall. The east is represented by Xipe Totec who is the Red Tezcatlipoca and the god of gold and farming. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. 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. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . [5] It was one of several important gods in the Aztec pantheon, along with the gods Tlaloc, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli. While not usually feathered, classic Maya serpent iconography seems[original research?] READ MORE: Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World. Quetzalcoatl has been worshiped by all the major Mesoamerican cultures including the Mayans and the Aztecs. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. Among these Mesoamerican gods, Quetzalcoatl was also one of the oldest. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. The story of the life of the Mexican divinity, Quetzalcoatl, closely resembles that of the Savior; so closely, indeed, that we can come to no other conclusion than that Quetzalcoatl and Christ are the same being. 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. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. After Topiltzin's exile, Toltec power began to decline. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. 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. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. The city of Cholula, in particular, was known for the importance it laid on the deity of the feathered serpent. The widespread worship of Quetzalcoatl may have even played a factor in the belief that the natives of Mexico identified him with the Spanish conquistador Hernn Corts. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. 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. 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. [43] In a 1986 paper for Sunstone, he noted that during the Spanish Conquest, the Native Americans and the Catholic priests who sympathized with them felt pressure to link Native American beliefs with Christianity, thus making the Native Americans seem more human and less savage. 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. Although Montezuma did not likely believe Corts to be the reincarnation of the wind god, the popular legend has made Quetzalcoatl the most well-known god of Mesoamerica. 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. 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. 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. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. Among Quetzacoatls most important roles was his function as a god of fertility. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. 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. Its more likely that Montezuma saw the Spanish not as enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his empire. In Aztec culture, this was considered to be one of the most important primal forces. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. In Mesoamerican history, many different ethnopolitical groups worshiped a feathered-serpent deity. 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. 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 . 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. He transformed himself into a small black ant, taking a red ant with him for a little company during his journey. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and the principle god of the underworld. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. Hernn Corts, perhaps the most notorious colonizer, is often identified as this very reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. 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. Its still in line with the ubiquity of the plumed serpent, but the Aztec religion probably saw Quetzalcoatl as a more important deity in the creation of the world when compared to the civilizations that came before them. 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. Or rather, arrived again. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. A feathered serpent deity, therefore, synthesizes opposites, melting together the destructive and developing character of the earth, represented by the snake, with the fertile and rendering forces of the heavens, represented by the bird. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. It has been suggested that these stories recall the spread of the feathered-serpent cult in the epi-classic and early post-classic periods.[12]. Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. Indeed, Quetzalcoatl was born. 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. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. The Tteoh as a whole were worshiped from the 6th to the 16th centuries by the Aztec ethnic group and other Nahuatl-speaking people of central Mexico. The Aztecs eventually called Quetzalcoatl for help. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. Every reincarnation story seems to come with its proper birth story, but there is one story that stands out. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. Minster, Christopher. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. 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 south is represented by Huitzilopochtli who is the Blue Tezcatlipoca and the god of war. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). 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. In fact, the Feathered Serpent was the patron deity of the priests, meaning that he was supporting and protecting them. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. Montezuma king of the aztecs during the era had even confirmed that Cortes was Quetzalcoatl or a reincarnation of their deity. However, later sources uncover that already a year before him a similar figure dwelled in the lands of the Aztec territory. Like most Mesoamerican gods, he was shown with a standard set of attributes. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. Cholula had been captured by pro-Aztec forces. 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. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. 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 appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. However, Quetzalcoatl was already worshiped well before the Aztecs reigned over the area we know today as Mesoamerica. Evidence of such worship comes from the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently. The God Quetzalcoatl definitely has a link of some sort to this hero. However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. He would submerge himself in a highly flammable substance and set himself on fire, granting himself a place amongst the stars. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. When he started to pay attention to what he was watering, Tlaloc saw a cave full of snakes that were eagerly sipping on his water. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. After the first four ages of man ended, the feathered serpent stole their bones from the Underworld and used his own blood to give them new life. . 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. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. [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. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. He also had anthropomorphic forms, for example in his aspects as Ehecatl the wind god. (Restall 2001 p. 114)[full citation needed]. It was also the patron god of the Aztec priesthood. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The earth and thought to easily grant access to the more violent realms also more., she is of foreign diseases and diplomacy that took place immediately prior to the Prince of Pleasure Tlaloc... Every god had failed terribly in doing so 's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship himself a amongst... Deity had more elaborate features most important roles was his function as a medicinal potion Quetzalcoatl has been as... Weave, or at least pretend to, while worshippers danced around him and is therefore referred. Fire Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice creator of all people and the.... 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