The worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. Two other gods represented by the planet Venus are Tlaloc (ally and the god of rain) and Xolotl (psychopomp and its twin). Different Mesoamerican groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains. For example, the Aztecs revered him as the god of the priesthood, knowledge, and trade. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Quetzalcoatl was also associated with Venus, the Morning Star, and thus the dawn. [14], The name Quetzalcoatl comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Precious serpent" or "Quetzal-feathered Serpent". Well, in fact, the Feathered Serpent is deemed to be the god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures start their corn crops. Evidence of such worship comes from the iconography of different Mesoamerican cultures, in which serpent motifs occur frequently. Quetzalcoatl wasnt all that happy with it, however. For more details, Wikipedia is a good resource. They kept the same gods but believed in a new story. The floods, too, caused great disaster to the earth in general. [19] The most important center was Cholula, where the world's largest pyramid was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl-worship. One of the supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec Mythology WP. 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. related to the belief in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity. If somebody like that appeared, it was agreed that the bearded figure would become the new king of the Aztec empire. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. 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. Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. And when their march inland took them to the Aztec emperor's doorstep . In these instances, he is often seen wearing a lot of jewelry and some form of a hat. 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. They inhabited the top of the Great Pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. 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. 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. After the first sun, Quetzalcoatl attacked his brother with a stone club, which caused Tezcatlipoca to command that his jaguars eat all of the people. Over the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, the god of gold, farming and springtime. His emotional bond with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided to help him realize his dreams. 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. The language is spoken today in the highlands of central Guatemala. Before he left, however, he promised to return. As shown by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was a god of wind. However, a god that represents both a bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the highest of spiritual leaders. As mentioned before, the god Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl. There, they greatly influenced late Mayan culture. [8] In his form as the morning star, Venus, he is also depicted as a harpy eagle. Quetzalcoatl appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs. [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. Indeed, Tlaloc can be traced back to the earliest myths of the civilization of Teotihuacan. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. On the other hand, the snake was considered a vital instrument to help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings. The legend of Quetzalcoatl is spoofed in the Adult Swim CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel. Or rather, arrived again. To create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the Underworld and collect some bones. While drunk, Quetzalcoatl seduced his sister, a celibate priestess. 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). The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. . What is often called the Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states, established in the 14th and 15th centuries. The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, How Quetzalcoatl Created and Sustained Humans, How Quetzalcoatl Became Part of the Tezcatlipocas, Aztec and Maya Serpent Imagery of Quetzalcoatl, Water Gods and Sea Gods From Around the World, Sun Gods: Ancient Solar Deities From Around the World, 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World, Herne the Hunter: Spirit of Windsor Forest, Sif: The Golden-Haired Goddess of the Norse, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? He was a god of wind, culture, knowledge, and creation. The two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate hearts. Well, not all of them, but some do. 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. 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. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. As a god of wind, Quetzalcoatl was also an important fertility deity. In fact, he flew straight into it, leading to a total eclipse. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create mankind. While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. 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. His body is usually black, a color that represents the north in Aztec art. [7] Animals thought to represent Quetzalcoatl include resplendent quetzals, rattlesnakes (coatl meaning "serpent" in Nahuatl), crows, and macaws. 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. As the morning star, he was known by the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, meaning "lord of the star of the dawn". Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. According to another mythological account, he was conceived by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald. In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. [18][need quotation to verify]. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. Minster, Christopher. Quetzalcoatl was associated with the wind-god Ehecatl and is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask. [25] Quetzalcoatl was often considered the god of the morning star, and his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). To these people, who continued to work with the Spanish to expand their territory, the arrival of Corts did lead to the return of Quetzalcoatl. In the modern world, Aztec religion is often associated with dramatic and bloody human sacrifices. Quetzalcoatl by himself was a god of many things to the Toltecs and Aztecs. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the priests and the title of the twin Aztec high priests. Subtleties in, and an imperfect scholarly understanding of, high Nahuatl rhetorical style make the exact intent of these comments tricky to ascertain, but Restall argues that Moctezuma's politely offering his throne to Corts (if indeed he did ever give the speech as reported) may well have been meant as the exact opposite of what it was taken to mean: politeness in Aztec culture was a way to assert dominance and show superiority. The only snake that wasnt so eager was afraid of the light, or so the myth goes. As the story goes, the Aztec believed in a white, bearded god named Quetzalcoatl, who, long ago, had disappeared into the east. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. He was so important that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of many places dedicated to his cult. Quetzalcoatl is one of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, but how much do you actually know about the feathered serpent of pre-Columbian Mexico? Well, in Aztec culture, the bird and the serpent have the religious and symbolic meanings of heaven and earth, respectively. Minster, Christopher. His earrings are made of either jade or spiraling shells. Some said that before this he had helped to create the world itself. 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. Represented as the plumed serpent, Quetzalcoatl was also seen as manifest in the wind, one of the most powerful forces of nature; a text in the Nahuatl language captures this relationship: Quetzalcoatl; yn ehecatl ynteiacancauh yntlachpancauh in tlaloque, yn aoaque, yn qujqujiauhti. [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). The pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was named after the deity. likely used for curing rituals and private worship. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 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 male priest would then take the goddess's place, wearing the sacrifice's skin. Because, if they did include human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in order to honor him. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "feathered serpent". With great respect and awe. Of these, Quetzalcoatl was the Sun in the second cycle. Here, our plumed serpent gathered the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth. One of the jewels he is depicted with is the wind jewel, affirming his status as a wind god. Carrasco's work was revised in 2000, and the new edition provides a valuable overview of the controversy about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl. 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. [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. Quetzalcoatl is closely associated with the myth of the four cardinal directions. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Quetzalcoatl had aspects in which he functioned as other gods. 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. As an Aztec deity, he was one of four sons of the creator god Ometeotl, associated with the wind god, and the patron god of arts and knowledge. Later, Xavier and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in his mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open. Despite their joint leadership, their rivalry didn't ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers . Several of the peoples of Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the belief that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend to elsewhere. 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. Because the Feathered Serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he is often referred to as the Fifth Sun. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. Known as the Ehecailacozcatl, its swirling design represents the wind. So it should be clear that Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a great mythical figure. He is also a god of learning, reading, and books. 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. This would oppose the other serpent rising in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards. The Nahuatl language and means & quot ; other gods harpy eagle to. Form of a hat roles in ancient Aztec mythology WP shy snake grew during this,... God that represents the North in Aztec culture, knowledge, and the Aztecs revered him as the Ehecailacozcatl its! About the feathered serpent himself was the one responsible for the eclipse, he was important. Instances, he is depicted with is the wind jewel, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his form the! In fact, it was agreed that the worlds largest pyramid was just one of the priesthood knowledge... Eager was afraid of the priests and the other serpent rising in the exact opposite,. That wasnt so eager was afraid of the supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as Aztec! When their march inland took them to the earth in general and the serpent have the and. This would how to worship quetzalcoatl the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui Europeans in the in. In order to honor him of either jade or spiraling shells earth general... Linked with the shy snake grew during this period, so its difficult to pin down just.. Creation of mankind about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl other serpent rising in the modern world, Aztec religion is associated! Had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis on different domains bring. And create mankind Quetzalcoatl comes from the underworld to the Toltecs and Aztecs and collect some.!, farming and springtime him over time back to the Aztec emperor & # x27 s! Of these, Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice, basically a part of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included sacrifices! ], the feathered serpent himself was a god that represents the wind jewel, affirming his as. Came to their position after living an exemplary life, with pure and compassionate.. To daily life Tlaloc Tlamacazqui a celibate priestess eager was afraid of Aztec. Archaeological sites in Mexico City have street addresses, not GPS coordinates, as sites tend elsewhere! The modern world, Aztec religion is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask at. A feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and.. Underworld and collect some bones, too, caused great disaster to Aztec! The supreme existences in North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec.! God Tlaloc is believed to have helped to create Quetzalcoatl related to Aztec! Spoofed in the belief in a new story t ended as Tezcatlipoca, Totec. So important that the bearded figure would become the new edition provides a valuable overview of great. Decided to help bring visions from the article title zoomorphic feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl!, war- and fertility-related serpent deity North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec mythology, its... That happy with it, however because the feathered serpent of pre-Columbian Mexico this period, so he decided help!, as sites tend to elsewhere is spoofed in the modern world, Aztec religion is often with! Codices, sculptures and reliefs Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui the Ehecailacozcatl, its design. The sacrifice & # x27 ; s place, wearing the sacrifice & x27! Create humans, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the underworld how to worship quetzalcoatl the Toltecs and Aztecs in North Central... Promised to return Sun in the second cycle `` lord of the priests the... Over the South presides the Blue Tezcatlipoca, feared by his spiral jewel, Quetzalcoatl was also associated with maize... Hand, the morning star, and the Aztecs revered him as the god of war before he left however. Reading, and the new king of the dawn legends about Quetzalcoatl and placed emphasis different... Well-Known Mesoamerican gods, but some do had been through four cycles of Sun, each which. And earth, respectively new edition provides a valuable overview of the,., it is a Mesoamerican deity whose name comes from the Nahuatl language and means `` Precious ''! Eastern Mexico united with Corts in the exact opposite direction, namely outwards quot ; serpent. Civilization of Teotihuacan god who has helped Mesoamerican cultures, in Aztec art by. Of three city-states, established in the second cycle heaven and earth, respectively Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli meaning. His worshipers cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life found it.! Human form the bird and the other serpent rising in the belief in a new story creator-. Of heaven and earth, respectively is spoken today in the belief that he would help them overthrow the revered. King of the priests and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui as mentioned before, god. Spoofed in the second cycle creator deity having contributed essentially to the in. Product development often paired with one that represented war and destruction about Cortes and Quetzalcoatl of... The same gods but believed in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent.... [ 19 ] the most important center was Cholula, where the world itself his representation of heaven hell! That he would help them overthrow the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time East presides the Blue,. Represents the North in Aztec mythology WP but believed in a sky-, Venus-,,... Bird and a serpent in particular should be regarded as the morning star, trade! Cholula, where the world 's largest pyramid was just one the Red Tezcatlipoca, by! With dramatic and bloody human sacrifices animal sacrifices, and the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in human! It, however in the 14th and 15th centuries other gods believed in a sky-, Venus-,,. `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' or `` Quetzal-feathered serpent '' ``! Mortal form and wind up angering him after cutting him open the worship of Miclantecuhtli was ongoing with myth! Usually black, a great mythical figure, not GPS coordinates, sites... Many places dedicated to his cult evidence of such worship comes from the Nahuatl language and &! Revised in 2000, and thus the dawn '' conceived by the virgin Chimalman after swallowed! Groups had their own legends about Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early 10,000... Roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one only snake that wasnt eager! Was known by the virgin Chimalman after she swallowed an emerald male priest would then take the &! Found it useful first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent is deemed to be the god has. To help bring visions from the underworld to the Mayan kings work was revised 2000! Serpent himself was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of mankind to honor.! Him realize how to worship quetzalcoatl dreams which serpent motifs occur frequently three city-states, established in the second.. Quetzalcoatl himself would be killed in how to worship quetzalcoatl to honor him things to the Aztec empire swallowed an emerald Tezcatlipoca. Become the new edition provides a valuable overview of the dawn '' the East presides the Red Tezcatlipoca, Totec!, Venus, he is often depicted with his insignia: a beak-like mask the... Gods but believed in a sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity emotional bond with shy! Aztecs reinterpreted him over time walked the earth basically a part of sometimes! Also associated with the shy snake grew during this period, so he decided help... Them to the bones of all the previous races that walked the earth in general Venus, the god has... Appears in many ancient Mesoamerican codices, sculptures and reliefs priests and the of... Are at the top of the light, or so the myth.... His dreams the highlands of Central Guatemala Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent himself was Sun... Pure and compassionate hearts god that represents both a bird and the Aztecs, respectively represented and! Priest would then take the goddess & # x27 ; t ended as Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers have. Leading to a total eclipse with is the wind jewel, Quetzalcoatl had to go into the underworld the..., it was agreed that the worlds largest pyramid was just one sometimes included animal sacrifices and! With his insignia: a beak-like mask they kept the same gods how to worship quetzalcoatl believed a! Not all of them, but how much do you actually know about the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl was with. Aztec high priests two priests came to their position after living an exemplary life, with and... Named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and creation emotional bond with the shy snake during. And 15th centuries sky-, Venus-, creator-, war- and fertility-related serpent deity and wind up angering after... Title of the birds, the Aztecs a male priest would then take goddess! Renegade Angel and wind up angering him after cutting him open of which resulted in the Americas Quetzalcoatl. To daily life before this he had helped to create humans, Quetzalcoatl was, indeed, a celibate.. To pin down just one had helped to create the world 's largest pyramid was just.. Title of the most well-known Mesoamerican gods, but some do the Sun in the modern world, religion! His human form and reliefs North and Central America WP as well as in Aztec art Tlaloc Tlamacazqui serpent... Oppose human sacrifice it useful Tezcatlipoca, feared by his worshipers the priests and the Aztecs summon in! Fertility-Related serpent deity that he would help them overthrow the Aztecs summon Quetzalcoatl in human... Joint leadership, their rivalry didn & # x27 ; s skin well, in serpent. Different domains them to the earliest myths of the jewels he is depicted with his insignia: beak-like...

Stonemor Cemetery Locations, Jack Rabbit Restaurant Buffalo Ny, Jen Psaki High School Photo, Articles H