Later Spanish sources of history claimed that Moctezuma II thought Cortes to be a manifestation of Quetzalcoatl. In Aztec language, his name indicated him to be a boundary between the Earth and the sky. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. In one version of this story, he and his brother Tezcatlipota warred over the earth, destroying it four times before ending their feud. ThoughtCo. The most astonishing aspect of their worship, at least to the Spaniards, was their habit of human sacrifice . and they were greatly influential on all subsequent ones. 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. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. According to one version, Quetzalcoatl was born to a virgin called Chimalman to whom god Onteol appeared in a dream. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. While Quetzalcoatl is widely related by historians to just one of the five suns, it seems like the first four suns also had quite a bit to do with the Feathered Serpent. One legend claimed that the star was Quetzalcoatls heart, placed in the sky after he burned himself alive out of shame for neglecting his duties. While the Aztecs were still waiting for the returning god Quetzalcoatl, most of their people were killed due to diseases brought by the Spaniards. The Spanish helped non-Aztec groups reclaim territory that included a massive pyramid dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. According to stories, Aztec people only ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived. In this period the deity is known to have been named Quetzalchutl by his Nahua followers. The first keeper of written records, he was patron of the Calmecac, a school for noble children who learned to paint histories and astrology, as well as practice the art of war. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. (2020, August 28). 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. It starts with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain. Before he left, however, he promised to return. https://www.thoughtco.com/facts-about-quetzalcoatl-2136322 (accessed March 2, 2023). At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. 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. The concept of duality, therefore, meant Quetzalcoatl was associated with life. It is also suggested that he was a son of Xochiquetzal and Mixcoatl. 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. The worship of this deity has been traced back to as early as the first century BC. Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of suns. The Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala provided soldiers to support the Spanish army, first to retake Cholula and then to march against Tenochtitlan. Quetzalcoatl is the creator of all people and the giver of wisdom, corn, and the calendar. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. He would submerge himself in a highly flammable substance and set himself on fire, granting himself a place amongst the stars. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. This didnt help a lot to overcome their cruel intentions, however. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. These were part of the Nahua culture, which included both these states and other independent ethnic groups in central Mexico. He is further related to the gods of wind, with human sacrifice and to the morning star in the Aztec mythology. What a conundrum. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. In some areas, however, it was believed that Quetzalcoatl opposed such sacrifices. 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., -Bernadino de Sahagn, Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain. 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. 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. [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. He appears seated in Omnipotence City of the gods, where all major deities are located, during an announcement from leader of the gods, Zeus. 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. 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. 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. In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. He wore a red mask, however, with an elongated, duck-like mouth and long canine teeth. What did Quetzalcoatl teach? . [41] However, in 1892 one president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, John Taylor, wrote:[42]. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He figures most prominently in the Aztec mythology but it was in the city of Cholula that the cult of Quetzalcoatl enjoyed influence and prominence during the Classic Period of Mesoamerica. That period lies within the Late Preclassic to Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, and veneration of the figure appears to have spread throughout . Accessed March 1, 2023. "9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl." Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican god whose name literally means feathered serpent. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. The major worship of this god as Quetzalcoatl began in 700 . However, each and every god had failed terribly in doing so. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. . His job was to protect the sun from the dangers of the underworld. There is no question that the legend of Quetzalcoatl played a significant role in the colonial period. Quetzalcoatl was not only one of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, he was also one of the oldest. These languages existed in the Aztec era and were joined by many that still exist in other Central American countries and those that have become extinct. In Tenochtitlan, Quezelcoatls name was used as a priestly title. In his aspect as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, he was the fearsome god of Venus and the morning star. Chichen Itza is famous for its Temple of Kukulcn, which was their name for Quetzalcoatl. Why is that? Occasionally, he is accompanied by his namesake quetzal bird. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. This made crops grow and brought water for drinking. As a wind god, he was also responsible for making the rain fall. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. He was worshiped among all the major cultures of the Mesoamerican region through history. [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). As a priestly god, Quetzalcoatl oversaw the violent sacrifices that ensured that Tlaltcuhtli did not destroy life. 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. The association of the name with kingship led colonial Spaniards to believe that the Aztecs considered themselves to be descended from the god himself. ", "Method and Skepticism (and Quetzalcoatl)", "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya maize god and Jesus Christ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quetzalcoatl&oldid=1141156375, Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints, Articles containing Classical Nahuatl-language text, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having different image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from June 2021, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from June 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2020, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with sources in Nahuatl languages (nah), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, White Tecatlipoca, Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, Feathered Serpent, Precious Twin, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, Tlaloc, god of rain, lightning and thunder, the feathered serpent, god of vegetational renewal, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 17:09. . 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 image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. He is a powerful and benevolent dragon-type entity associated with harvests, wild animals, the morning star ( Venus ), wind and rain. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. 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. Ate animals or roots until Quetzalcoatl arrived, corn, and the morning star in the colonial.. Hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the most important deities in pre-Columbian Mexico, promised. 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