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. As a god, its only logical that such reincarnations would be for the betterment of the earth and its people. 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. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. Colonial documentary sources from the Maya area frequently speak of the arrival of foreigners from the central Mexican plateau, often led by a man whose name translates as "Feathered Serpent". 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. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. The relation of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is a result of the mingling of his earliest myths and some new perceptions. Because there were so many languages and ethnic groups in Mesoamerica, their gods went by many names. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli The god of the Morning Star is sometimes considered to be separate from Quetzalcoatl, but is elsewhere given as one of the wind gods titles. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. With great respect and awe. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order 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. In the extant Mayan sources, it has been revealed that Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, was associated with warfare as well as fertility. How should one worship the sun? Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent Quetzalcoatl into exile. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. However, as opposed to earlier depictions of Quetzalcoatl, the Mayan version of the deity had more elaborate features. Have you ever eaten blue, white, black, or red corn? 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. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. Latter-day Saint author Brant Gardner, after investigating the link between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus, concluded that the association amounts to nothing more than folklore. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. READ MORE: Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World. He took his companion Xolotl, a dog-headed god, with him. The name Quetzalcoatl comes from this language and is most widely-used both because it was recorded by Spanish conquerors and because Nahuatl is still spoken by roughly 1.5 million people. Toltec religion. 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. For example, a depiction in Acapulco, Mexico, shows the Aztec snake god in all its glory. One of the supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec Mythology WP. (2020, August 28). [10], The earliest known documentation of the worship of a Feathered Serpent occurs in Teotihuacan in the first century BC or first century AD. In the Aztec religion, Chalchiuhtlicue was the goddess of water, but she was also the only Chalchiuhtlicue: The Aztec Goddess of Water, gods to Spanish legends, heres everything you need to know about the most famous god of the Aztecs. Aztec God Quetzalcoatl According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. 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. Quetzalcoatls twin, Xolotl, was a god associated with death. Quetzalcoatl stands out from the Mesoamerican pantheon as being relatively less bloodthirsty than others like Huitzilopochtli or Tezcatlipoca, making him as good a candidate as any for Jesus visiting the New World. Each represented a color and a cardinal direction, with Quetzalcoatl being the only god that wasnt related to war or human sacrifice. 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. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. They also believed that the Aztec gods reflected aspects of their own religion. Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. The trip was far from easy, but Quetzalcoatl was able to complete it. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. The earliest known iconographic depiction of the deity appears on Stela 19 at the Olmec site of La Venta. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. 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]. 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. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. . 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. 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. 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. [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. In 1519, Hernn Corts and his ruthless band of audacious conquistadors conquered the Aztec Empire, taking Emperor Montezuma captive and sacking the grand city of Tenochtitln. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. [15] In the 17th century, Ixtlilxchitl, a descendant of Aztec royalty and historian of the Nahua people, wrote, "Quetzalcoatl, in its literal sense, means 'serpent of precious feathers' but in the allegorical sense, 'wisest of men'."[16]. As indicated, Quetzalcoatl would be depicted in a human form after the year 1200. He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. In Xochicalco, depictions of the feathered serpent accompany the image of a seated, armed ruler and the hieroglyph for the day sign 9 Wind. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. Over the West presides the White Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, the god of light, justice, mercy and wind. Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. Some Mormons believe that Quetzalcoatl, who was associated with the east, (which in turn was represented by the color white to the Aztecs), was white-skinned. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. 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. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. Quetzalcoatlhe was the wind, the guide and road sweeper of the rain gods, of the masters of the water, of those who brought rain. Because of this, the ways in which he was worshipped varied widely. At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. With her arms bent and pulled up against her sides as if to strike, she is . [22] A third story narrates that Chimalman was hit in the womb by an arrow shot by Mixcoatl and nine months later she gave birth to a child which was called Quetzalcoatl. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . This story probably came about later, as Aztec nobles tried to rationalize their defeat. The worship of a feathered serpent deity is first document in Teotihuacan in the first century BCE or first century CE. Incest is nothing new in mythology, but seducing a celibate priestess might be. The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. All good eclipses must come to an end, and this happened when the snake evolved into a Feathered Serpent and flew out of the sun again. The worlds largest pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl and was built up at the site over a period of a thousand years. 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. 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 city was known as the center of Quetzalcoatls worship. Similarly, various other birth stories are also associated with Quetzalcoatl. This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. 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/. Thats quite a big deal, because for the people in ancient Mexico, maize, or corn, is not just a crop. There are several stories about the birth of Quetzalcoatl. Cholula remained the most important center of worship of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec/Nahua version of the feathered-serpent deity, in the post-classic period. Finally, the north is represented by the god who is only known as Tezcatlipoca or the Black Tezcatlipoca. Quetzalcoatl (/ktslkotl/[3]) [pron 1] is a deity in Aztec culture and literature. This confederacy engaged in almost seventy-five years of nearly continuous conflict with the Aztec Empire of the Triple Alliance until the arrival of Corts. He appears in Post-classic tales from the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. In the iconography of the classic period, Maya serpent imagery is also prevalent: a snake often appears as the embodiment of the sky itself, and a vision serpent is a shamanic helper presenting Maya kings with visions of the underworld. After months of rain, the snake was forced to come out of the cave. 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. After a slapstick-style chase scene, Xavier winds up as the Sun God and commits "sacricide" (sacrificial suicide), ending the skit. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. 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. [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. The legend reports that Quetzalcoatl was a peaceful king and priest of Tollan, but he was deceived by Tezcatlipoca and his followers, who practiced human sacrifice and violence. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". [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. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. When Corts arrived, these factions had been in a state of nearly continuous warfare for seventy-five years. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. So technically, any human form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl. 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. Along with one of his brothers, he was instructed by his parents to create the world six hundred years after his birth. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. Tlaloc we already know. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. This article is about a Mesoamerican deity. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. 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. 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. Don't fly too close to the sun or sit under her rays unprotected for too long. Minster, Christopher. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. Therefore, deities that were related to the more violent realms also became more important. 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. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. [12] In the Postclassic period (9001519AD), the worship of the feathered-serpent deity centered in the primary Mexican religious center of Cholula. His form of reincarnation, more specifically, would be that of a white person with a long beard. The Toltecs greatly venerated Quetzalcoatl at their capital of Tula, and other major cities at the time also worshiped the feathered serpent. It was not just a populist idea that gained interest in Aztec society. 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. What is often called the Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states, established in the 14th and 15th centuries. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. Tlaltcuhtli was so upset at the loss of her own body that she demanded the hearts and blood of humans to appease her wrath. But even things of an extremely mundane nature like s. This constitutes the Late Pre-Classic Period of the Mayan civilization. The shift in perception had to do with a bigger emphasis on war and human sacrifice in these empires. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. For the giant pterosaur, see, God of life, light and wisdom, lord of the day and the winds. 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. [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. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? 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. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. Ultimately, Quetzalcoatl was forced into exile. Quetzalcoatl is a form of one of Mesoamericas most wide-spread images. It may be that the historical Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl was deified into Quetzalcoatl the god, or he may have assumed the mantle of an already existing divine entity. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. This idea of return stemmed from a supposed speech given by Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, to Corts when the Spanish arrived at Tenochtitlan. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Different cultures associated him with priesthood and kingship, further complicating his mythology in later retellings. [12] Feathered-serpent iconography is prominent at all of these sites. 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. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. While Quetzacoatl is one of the most well-known gods of ancient Mexico, he is often misunderstood. This, it is believed, explains why he was looking inwards to the city. Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. The west is represented by Quetzalcoatl who is also the White Tezcatlipoca and the god of light, justice, mercy, and wind. It allows for a form of food security, and therefore for peace, and as a result, has taken on not only physical and economic importance but spiritual significance as well. One of his most defining attributes, however, is his breastplate. 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. These sources further claimed that it was because of this superstition that Moctezuma II invited Cortes as a guest and didnt harm him or his soldiers. Looking at the iconography and retold myths of Mesoamerica, some historians have theories that Quetzalcoatl came to be associated with culture and urban civilization. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. Cult worship may have involved the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms (psilocybes), considered sacred. Over time, Quetzalcoatl's appearance, clothing, malevolent nature, and status among the gods were reshaped to fit a more Christian framework. Although figuring prominently in many Mesoamerican mythologies, Quetzalcoatl also spawned a cult of his own. Welcome. Rise early to appreciate the magnificence of her rising, and try to spend some time soaking up her warmth whenever you can. 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. His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. 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. What a conundrum. 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. [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. In mythology, he is a gentle god who loves peace, and it is said that he bestowed many blessings to the humans. While not usually feathered, classic Maya serpent iconography seems[original research?] While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. A young woman would be dressed as Xochiquetzal before being beheaded and flayed. Minster, Christopher. In some traditions, he was considered to be the creator of mankind. According to a Toltec legend, their civilization (which dominated Central Mexico from approximately 900-1150 A.D.) was founded by a great hero, Ce Acatl Topiltzn Quetzalcoatl. In one myth tied to this belief, the two killed a great monster and used its body to craft the world. Each of these four sons presides over one of the four cardinal directions. 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 the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. Or rather, arrived again. The name Quetzalcoatl can directly be linked to the Quetzal bird, a rare bird species found in Mesoamerica. 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And his crew of Spaniards came ashore in Mexico in 1519, many thought they were gods became more.. Oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life of La Venta him... Himself to give life to the humans also the patron of the astonishing. Quetzalcoatl & # x27 ; s largest pyramid was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc instructed by his parents to the. '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' white person with a long beard, his. Used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the humans and Nahuas worshiped god.