He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. 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. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. His ashes rose into the sky and then his heart followed, becoming the morning star (see Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli). To this day, new depictions of the creator deity can be found in Mexico. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . But, remember, the promise of Quetzalcoatl was to bring heaven to the beings that were living in hell. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. 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. Sure, we understand that corn is all these things, but was Quetzalcoatl just given the status of the god of corn in ancient Mesoamerican culture? Its more likely that Montezuma saw the Spanish not as enemies but as possible allies in his ongoing campaign to enlarge his empire. However, independent historical sources do not substantiate this claim and later historians have disputed it as well. Quetzalcoatl was considered important in the pantheon of Aztec gods. 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. In the 16th century, Spaniards conquered the Aztec Empire. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. Quetzalcoatl is the most recognizable name among the Aztec gods. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. [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. [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. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. 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. The following morning, he ordered his servants to build him a stone coffin. This, too, meant the end of the god Quetzalcoatl. Historians debate to what degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events. In the Maya area he was approximately equivalent to Kukulkan and Gukumatz, names that also roughly translate as "feathered serpent" in different Mayan languages. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. A male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of snakes, promising to return. Quetzalcoatl went to Mictlan, the underworld, and created fifth-world mankind from the bones of the previous races (with the help of Cihuacoatl), using his own blood, from a wound he inflicted on his earlobes, calves, tongue, and penis, to imbue the bones with new life. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. Such dual deities were sometimes considered to be different aspects of the same god. 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]. Quetzalcoatl is but one of the Aztec gods and goddesses that has animal-like characteristics. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. Rather than the conquistador himself being the wind god, however, it was that his army allowed the Puebla and their allies to reclaim the pyramid of Tlachihualtepetl, the center of Quezalcoatls cult. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. Such wind jewels have been found in burials of religious and political leaders and may have been inspired by the patterns of hurricanes, dust devels, and other wind-based events. Why is that? To both Teotihuacan and Maya cultures, Venus was in turn also symbolically connected with warfare.[21]. All but one. ThoughtCo. How should one worship the sun? One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. At Cholula, however, the gods cult is most evident. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. From here, he would be seen as the morning star, while his twin brother would be seen as the evening star; planet Venus. The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. 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. Mason-Dixon Line From ancient snake gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs! Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. The city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. Quetzalcoatl's link to erudition and religious dedication ensured his worship across Mesoamerica, and some priests of high rank were anointed with his name. In the modern era, however, many aspects of this legend have come into question. Today he is known best as Quetzalcoatl, the name he was worshipped by in the Aztec culture. In the Aztec ritual calendar, different deities were associated with the cycle-of-year names: Quetzalcoatl was tied to the year Ce Acatl (One Reed), which correlates to the year 1519. Tlaloc we already know. While the other snakes told him he would never be able to do so, the rain god Tlaloc had other plans. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. READ MORE: Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. This, too, can be seen in the birth of Quetzalcoatl. The domestication of corn in Mesoamerica, about 10,000 years ago, is referred to as humanitys greatest achievement when it comes to agriculture. In their mythology, the world was periodically destroyed and rebuilt by the gods. By the 3rd century AD this was recognizable as a god, who had a pyramid dedicated to his honor in the city of Teotihuacn. Round monuments occur particularly often in Huastec territory. You have graciously arrived, you have known pain, you have known weariness, now come on earth, take your rest, enter into your palace, rest your limbs; may our lords come on earth. 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! Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. This is what you have to look forward to- Initially, you will notice that you can find pleasure in new and sometimes bizarre places. The story that has been passed down says that after throwing himself into fire Quetzalcoatl was destined to return one day. 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. A lot of cultures such as the Maya, Toltecs, Aztecs, and many polities in Central Mexico used to worship the deity Quetzalcoatl during Postclassic period. While the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. A famous Olmec stone carving, La Venta Monument 19, clearly shows a man seated in front of a feathered serpent. Because the feathered serpent was such a widespread and long-lasting archetype, he was known by many names throughout Mexico and Central America. When Cortes and his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods. Getting the snake out of the cave had been Tlalocs only objective for months on end. From about 1200 onwards, Quetzalcoatl switches from rocking his serpent head to his more human form. Having been in awe of the sun and its light, the snake decided to fly toward the sun. Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Quetzalcoatl occupied a unique position in the Aztec pantheon and was considered one of the most important gods. 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. 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/. Members of this confederacy from Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Oaxaca provided the Spaniards with the army that first reclaimed the city of Cholula from its pro-Aztec ruling faction, and ultimately defeated the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City). Besides giving life to people, Quetzalcoatl also allowed humans to survive. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. Residing in the darkness felt safe to him, so he decided to stay far away from the life-giving water. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. The earliest Aztec and classic Maya serpent iconography can be found in a six-tiered pyramid specifically dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. During the epi-classic period, a dramatic spread of feathered serpent iconography is evidenced throughout Mesoamerica, and during this period images begin to figure prominently at sites such as Chichn Itz, El Tajn, and throughout the Maya area. In the post-classic Nahua civilization of central Mexico (Aztec), the worship of Quetzalcoatl was ubiquitous. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. Xolotl was the sinister god of monstrosities who wears the spirally-twisted wind jewel and the ear ornaments of Quetzalcoatl. In some stories he created mankind, and in others he worked with his brother to form the earth itself. Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. The temple can be found at Teotihuacan and was erected in the third century. 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. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec mythology. In the modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. [45][46] The deity has been featured as a character in the manga and anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. 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. 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. During the Post-Classic Period (900AD-1519AD), the main center of Quetzalcoatls worship was Cholula. 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. Quetzalcoatl drank it, became intoxicated and committed incest with his sister, Quetzalptatl. [9] In Mazatec legends the astrologer deity Tlahuizcalpanteuctli, who is also represented by Venus, bears a close relationship with Quetzalcoatl. 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 . 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. He was quite a bit bigger than he was before. Did the Incas worship Quetzalcoatl? Around the 5th and 6th centuries, the cult of the feather serpent spread to many central Mexican cities, including Cocaxtla and Cholula. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . As a wind god, he was also responsible for making the rain fall. In this period the deity is known to have been named Quetzalchutl by his Nahua followers. 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. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. Mainly because they thought one of them was the reincarnation of the beloved god discussed in this article. For this reason, it is also believed that offers to Quetzalcoatl were one of only a few that should not include human sacrifice. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). 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. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. Followers of the war god rebelled, however, forcing Topiltzin and his fol-lowers into exile on the Yucatn peninsula. 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. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. There was one way that would certainly work, namely by letting it rain so abundantly that the snake simply drifted out of the cave. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. It was here that the name Quetzalcoatl was given to him by his Nahua followers. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. READ MORE: Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. [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. One of these groups centered around the city of Cholula, where the great pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Franciscans then equated the original Quetzalcoatl with Thomas and imagined that the Indians had long-awaited his return to take part once again in God's kingdom. Where once feathered snakes were worshiped all over, after the Spanish conquest the locals were forced into worshiping Jesus Christ. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. 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. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. 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