He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. 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. Quetzalcoatl appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thor: Love and Thunder. 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. The colonization of Mesoamerica, or rather Abya Yala, has severely impacted the area where Quetzalcoatl was worshiped. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-box-4','ezslot_7',140,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-box-4-0'); This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aztecsandtenochtitlan_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); By the Late Classic Period (600AD-900AD), it appears that the worship of Quetzalcoatl had spread throughout the Mesoamerican region. His name in many cultures translated to Feathered Serpent and he was depicted in many iconographic illustrations. The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . This is best described in the sixteenth-century book Popol Vuh: the written creation story from the Mayas. Throughout Mesoamerican culture, they practiced human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism to placate this god. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. READ MORE: Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World. He was known as the inventor of books and the calendar, the giver of maize (corn) to mankind, and sometimes as a symbol of death and resurrection. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. 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. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. At this particular address, behind the green door, next . The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. 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. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. 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. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. Mexico's flagship airline Aeromxico has a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner painted in a special Quetzalcoatl livery. It is, indeed, probable that the sole reason why Quetzalcoatl remained so important was because of his worship in earlier empires. Tlaloc we already know. This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. While not usually feathered, classic Maya serpent iconography seems[original research?] Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. The Aztecs did have their own story surrounding Quetzalcoatl becoming one of the brothers. In fact, the then-current king himself, Moteuhzoma II, prophesied the return of Quetzalcoatl as a white-bearded person even if it would mean that hed have to give up his place on the throne. Others said that he had invented the calendar and books. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. [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. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. 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. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. This made it an important sign of fertility because it brought with it the rains that renewed the earth. 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. These, then, are the people that still inhabit the world. 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. In the modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. ThoughtCo. That is, according to the Aztecs. Remember, he has already been deemed a god. By adding a bit of his own blood, he allowed a new civilization to emerge. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. 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. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. The title of the twin Aztec high priests wasnt just Quetzalcoatl. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. In the Mesoamerican Epiclassic Period (900-1200 A.D.), worship of Quetzalcoatl took off. Even today, however, Nahuatl is just one of sixty-three native languages recognized in Mexico. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. [38] Some Franciscans at this time held millennarian beliefs[39] and some of them believed that Corts' coming to the New World ushered in the final era of evangelization before the coming of the millennium. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. 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. A Walking Tour of the Maya Capital of Chichn Itz, The Chac Mool Sculptures of Ancient Mexico, Influence of the Olmec Civilization on Mesoamerica. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. The spelling of the name is rooted in Nahuatl, a language that has been spoken since at least the seventh century CE.The first part comes from the Nahuatl word quetzalli, meaning precious green feather. The second part of his name, coatl, means serpent. The Aztecs, however, were only a small segment of the regions people. 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). 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. Xolotl Among the Aztecs, this was Quetzalcoatls twin. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Quetzalcoatl was a jack of many trades, a truth also reflected in the stories surrounding his birth. Mictlanteuctli and Mictlancihuatl, the two gods that ruled that realm, gave him a puzzle he was expected to complete before he could take the bones. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. 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. Quetzalcoatl was many things: (1) a historical personage - a great priest-king and religious reformer who lived in approximately the tenth century A.D. Have you ever eaten blue, white, black, or red corn? His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-AH-tl) is the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs and Toltecs. It was not just a populist idea that gained interest in Aztec society. 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. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. [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. 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]. [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). ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322. His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. Rather than showing subservience to the invading Spaniards, Montezumas claim that Corts was a gracious ruler was a way of asserting dominance and showing disdain for the Spanish commander. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. 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. Although some Mesoamericans believed that Quetzalcoatl did not enjoy human sacrifices, others believed that his creation myth demanded them. The ancient Olmec civilization lasted roughly from 1200 to 400 B.C. Why is that? So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. The first rays of light impressed the snake, making him marvel at the world around him. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Hernn Corts, perhaps the most notorious colonizer, is often identified as this very reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. . This talisman was a conch shell cut at the cross-section and was likely worn as a necklace by religious rulers, as such objects have been discovered in burials in archaeological sites throughout Mesoamerica,[6] and potentially symbolized patterns witnessed in hurricanes, dust devils, seashells, and whirlpools, which were elemental forces that had significance in Aztec mythology. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. 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). . When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Welcome. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/quetzalcoatl/. And, it wasnt so bad after all. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. Drunkenness was forbidden, so Tezcatlipoca disguised himself as a medicine man and offered Quetzalcoatl alcohol disguised as a medicinal potion. [23], The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat between civilizations and through history. The next morning, Quetzalcoatl, feeling shame and regret, had his servants build him a stone chest, adorn him in turquoise, and then, laying in the chest, set himself on fire. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. Among the Aztecs, it was related to wind, Venus, Sun, merchants, arts, crafts, knowledge, and learning. Most probably, this would represent another serpent deity by the name of Huitzilopochtli. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. The Nahua largely spoke dialects of the same language, Nahuatl, which helped to unify their culture. Well, not all of them, but some do. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. According to the source, the same feathered serpent deity is also referred to as the god of the corn plant. In the underworld, Quetzalcoatl went all the way to Mictln; the lowest region of the Aztec underworld. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. [citation needed], In the Codex Chimalpopoca, it is said Quetzalcoatl was coerced by Tezcatlipoca into becoming drunk on pulque, cavorting with his older sister, Quetzalpetlatl, a celibate priestess, and neglecting their religious duties. Quetzalcoatls quarrels with his brother Tezcatlipoca sometimes brought about these destructions of the world. For its Temple of Kukulcn, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico pyramid. The title of the Aztecs, however darkness felt safe to him, so he to! Popol Vuh: the written creation story from the life-giving Water, Quetzalcoatl was god. 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