However, this legend likely has a foundation in events that took place immediately prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. The Toltecs and Nahuas worshiped the god before he was eventually adopted by the Aztecs. 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. Have you ever eaten blue, white, black, or red corn? Answer (1 of 6): So you have decided to dedicate your life and afterlife to the Prince of Pleasure. The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and in colonial traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice. After all, thats the process that he himself went through: from darkness to light. While other gods had relied on brute force for reaching the other side, Quetzalcoatl relied on intelligence in order to reach the maize. His appearance can change drastically, however, depending on the region, era, and context. Before he left, however, he promised to return. Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? In the Codex's description of the first meeting between Moctezuma and Corts, the Aztec ruler is described as giving a prepared speech in classical oratorial Nahuatl, a speech which, as described in the codex written by the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagn and his Tlatelolcan informants, included such prostrate declarations of divine or near-divine admiration as: You have graciously come on earth, you have graciously approached your water, your high place of Mexico, you have come down to your mat, your throne, which I have briefly kept for you, I who used to keep it for you. Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca may have been worshiped as early as 10,000 BC. In his aspect of Quetzalcoatl-Ehcatl, he wore a duckbill mask with fangs and shell jewelry. Over more than a thousand years, a similar god was worshipped by virtually every one of Mesoamericas related cultures. Minster, Christopher. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It really elevated the status of the Feathered Serpent to the protector of the people, which is also affirmed by his role as patron god. Amazed by the grace and beauty of the birds, the snake decided his destiny was to fly like them. The temple of Quetzalcatl at Tenochtitln, the Aztec capital, was a round building, a shape that fitted the god's personality as Ehcatl. Although early images had shown a serpent, by the classical period of Aztec culture Quetzalcoatl was more often shown with a human body. 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. [44], Quetzalcoatl was fictionalized in the 1982 film Q as a monster that terrorizes New York City. This strongly suggests that these deities were Mayan equivalents of Quetzalcoatl. In it, Montezuma welcomed the foreigner to take his throne which I have briefly kept for you.. Quetzalcoatl stole the bones from the Underworld, taking great risks and evading many traps to bring them to the surface. While the inhabitants of Teotihuacan were the first ones to worship Quetzalcoatl, the Aztecs reinterpreted him over time. This is also evident in the duality of serpent figures throughout Mesopotamian history. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . Table of Contents [ hide] Etymology and Archaeology Sure, other pagan gods had made their appearance on earth and thought to easily grant access to the corn. In some versions of the ancient Mesoamerican histories, Quetzalcoatl was reborn as Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli after being burned on a funeral pyre. He was also associated with the creation of mankind, so he also possibly occupied the role of creator in the Aztec mythology. The first documented worship of Quetzalcoatl is found in Theotihuacan during the first century BC or first century AD. 9 Facts About Quetzalcoatl. It is not a coincidence that Quetzalcoatl is just as often referred to as the Feathered Serpent by his worshipers and historians. [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). At one hand, Mayans considered a snake as the embodiment of the cosmos. He used his own blood from wounds he inflicted on himself to give life to the bones and create 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. Often our current time was considered the fifth sun,[29] the previous four having been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Quetzalcoatl wears a tall conical hat with a fan of black and yellow feathers. While in his own story, this was not all too literal, his actions that followed were actually the literal interpretation of his promise. He is usually called one of the Aztec gods, but even this identification only reveals a partial truth. Indeed, it turned out that this was the only viable option since the snake wasnt planning on moving for other reasons. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. Standing over ten feet tall, the statue towers over onlookers as she leans toward them. 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. Ehecatl In some Aztec areas, such as Tenochtitlan, this was another wind god with nearly identical iconography to Quetzalcoatl. By 1200 AD, Quetzalcoatls iconography had become more fixed. Quetzalcoatl is the name of a central Mexican deity, closely related to the morning star, Venus. Nor would he be seen as the reincarnation of the Feathered Serpent god.Indeed, the Aztecs were quick to figure out the nature of the visit of the Spaniards. Quetzalcoatl, or "Feathered Serpent," was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. His representation of heaven and hell is also interpreted in different realms. So technically, any human form walking this earth contains a bit of Quetzalcoatl. 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. Quetzalcoatl, or Feathered Serpent, was an important god to the ancient people of Mesoamerica. 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. In the era following the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, a number of records conflated Quetzalcoatl with Ce Acatl Topiltzin, a ruler of the mythico-historic city of Tollan. Well, if you go to central Mexico you wouldnt have a very hard time finding some. The eclipse that was caused by the birth of Quetzalcoatl is believed to be the fifth eclipse to ever happen. Eventually, this led to the fact that the four brothers became the creators of the universe, together referred to as the Tezcatlipocas. Rather, one was named Quetzalcoatl Totec Tlamacazqui, and the other one Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc Tlamacazqui. Quetzalcoatl played many roles in ancient Aztec mythology, so its difficult to pin down just one. The meaning of his name is "Winged Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Gods of Death At first, the ancient Mesoamerican cultures were actually very welcoming toward the colonizers. What are the facts associated with this mysterious god? At the end of the fourth cycle, when mankind had perished again according to the mythology, Quetzalcoatl created a new people with his blood. [24] In another story, the virgin Chimalman conceived Quetzalcoatl by swallowing an emerald. In fact, it is a deep cultural symbol that is intrinsic to daily life. Quetzalcoatl became linked with the maize crop thanks to ancient legends. While this legend is disputed, it is clear that Quetzalcoatl was an important deity to the Aztecs and other people of Mexico and Central America. Mayans had deities with feathered serpent as their names. One of the most often-repeated stories involving Quetzalcoatl was one that spread after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. Because of this, the latest reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl would come to earth to do exactly that. After only a couple of years, the Aztec empire ended due to a combination of foreign diseases and diplomacy. Quetzalcoatl was also linked with Aztec priesthood and one of the two high priests in the famous Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan assumed the title of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl (/ktslkotl/[3]) [pron 1] is a deity in Aztec culture and literature. In sculptures adorning temples throughout ancient Mexico, he generally appeared as a plumed serpent, although sometimes he had human features as well. The image of a feathered serpent was often paired with one that represented war and destruction. Like many other Mesoamerican deities, the story of our god sees several reincarnations. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Each age of the world was given a new sun, and the world was on its Fifth Sun, having been destroyed four times previously. In art, he is represented by various animal symbols such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and macaws. The four suns before Quetzalcoatl had been destroyed by disastrous events, like floods, fires, and volcanic eruptions. In a version of the myth, Quetzalcoatl was born by a virgin named Chimalman, to whom the god Ometeotl appeared in a dream. As a double of Quetzalcoatl, he carries his conch-like ehecailacacozcatl or wind jewel.Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl to Mictlan, the land of the dead, or the underworld, to retrieve the bones from . Franciscans such as Toribio de Benavente "Motolinia" saw elements of Christianity in the pre-Columbian religions and therefore believed that Mesoamerica had been evangelized before, possibly by Thomas the Apostle, who, according to legend, had "gone to preach beyond the Ganges". He drove the winds that brought rain and allowed plants to grow. The gods powers extended beyond the wind, however. (Many academics conclude this passage implies incest.) According to Aztec mythology, Earth had been through four cycles of Sun, each of which resulted in the destruction of mankind. According to this myth, the four sons of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, one of them being Quetzalcoatl, represent the four cardinal directions. [18][need quotation to verify]. The relation of Quetzalcoatl with just the latest sun is a result of the mingling of his earliest myths and some new perceptions. Aztec areas, such as quetzals, rattlesnakes, crows, and context to oppose human sacrifice from wounds inflicted... 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